View source for Trent Reznor

{{short description|American musician (born 1965)}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Trent Reznor
| image              = Trent Reznor-FEB2008 (cropped, but higher quality) (2).jpg
| caption            = Reznor in February 2008
| birth_name      = Michael Trent Reznor
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1965|5|17}}
| birth_place      = [[New Castle, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| occupation       = {{flatlist|
* Musician
* singer-songwriter
* record producer
* composer
}}
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Mariqueen Maandig]]|2009}}
| children           = 5
| years_active   = 1982–present
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| background      = solo_singer
| origin          = [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]], U.S.
| instrument      = {{flatlist|
* Vocals
* guitar
* keyboards
}}
| genre = {{flatlist|
* [[Industrial rock]]
* [[industrial metal]]
* [[alternative rock]]
* [[Post-industrial music|post-industrial]]
* [[synth-pop]]
* [[Electronic music|electronic]]
* [[Film score|film]]
}}
| label           = {{flatlist|
* The Null Corporation
* [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]
* [[Nothing Records|Nothing]]
* [[Interscope Records|Interscope]]
* [[Universal Music Group|Universal]]
* [[TVT Records|TVT]]
}}
| current_member_of  = {{flatlist|
* [[Nine Inch Nails]]
* [[How to Destroy Angels (band)|How to Destroy Angels]]
* WitchGang
}}
| past_member_of  = {{flatlist|
* Option 30
* Slam Bamboo
* [[Exotic Birds]]
* [[The Innocent (band)|The Innocent]]
* [[Lucky Pierre (band)|Lucky Pierre]]
* [[Sound City Players]]
* [[Tapeworm (band)|Tapeworm]]
}}
}}
| website            = {{URL|nin.com}}
| signature          = File:Trent Reznor signature, Billboard Open Letter 2016.png
}}

'''Michael Trent Reznor''' (born May 17, 1965) is an<!--awards do not go here--> American musician. He came to prominence as the founder, lead vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and primary songwriter of the [[industrial rock]] band [[Nine Inch Nails]]. The band's line-up has constantly changed, with Reznor being its only official member from its creation in 1988 until 2016, when he added English musician and frequent collaborator [[Atticus Ross]] as its second permanent member.

Reznor began his career in 1982 as a member of [[synth-pop]] bands such as [[The Innocent (band)|The Innocent]] and [[Exotic Birds]]. The first Nine Inch Nails album, ''[[Pretty Hate Machine]]'' (1989), was a moderate success but largely remained popular with underground audiences; the next two albums, ''[[The Downward Spiral]]'' (1994) and ''[[The Fragile]]'' (1999), brought the band widespread critical acclaim. There have since been [[Nine Inch Nails discography|eight more Nine Inch Nails albums and six EPs]]. Reznor has also contributed to the work of artists such as his protégé [[Marilyn Manson (singer)|Marilyn Manson]], rapper [[Saul Williams]], and pop singer [[Halsey (singer)|Halsey]]. Alongside his wife [[Mariqueen Maandig]] and long-time collaborators [[Atticus Ross]] and [[Rob Sheridan]], he formed the [[Post-industrial music|post-industrial]] group [[How to Destroy Angels (band)|How to Destroy Angels]] in 2009.

Beginning in 2010, Reznor and Ross began to work on film and television scores. The duo have scored many of [[David Fincher]]'s films, including ''[[The Social Network]]'' (2010), ''[[The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film)|The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo]]'' (2011), ''[[Gone Girl (film)|Gone Girl]]'' (2014), ''[[Mank]]'' (2020), and ''[[The Killer (2023 film)|The Killer]]'' (2023). They won the [[Academy Award for Best Original Score]] and the [[Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media]] for both ''The Social Network'' and [[Soul (2020 film)|''Soul'']] (2020). They won the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series]] for ''[[Watchmen (TV series)|Watchmen]]'' (2019). Reznor, Ross, [[Dave Sitek]], and [[Hudson Mohawke]] created the virtual supergroup WitchGang in 2023. As Nine Inch Nails, they are creating the soundtrack to ''[[Tron: Ares]]'', to be released in 2025.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Vary |first=Adam B. |date=2024-08-10 |title='Tron: Ares' First Footage: Light Bikes, Jeff Bridges Returns and New Music From Nine Inch Nails |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/tron-ares-first-look-jared-leto-1236097947/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1997, Reznor appeared on ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''{{'s}} list of the year's most influential people and [[Spin (magazine)|''Spin'']] magazine described him as "the most vital artist in music".<ref name="Time">{{cite magazine | url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,986206-18,00.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061110050023/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,986206-18,00.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = November 10, 2006 | title = Time's 25 most influential Americans | magazine = [[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date = April 21, 1997 | volume = 149 | issue = 16 | page = 66 | access-date = 2011-12-29 }}</ref>

==Early life==
Michael Trent Reznor<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2021-05-17-19-things-you-might-not-know-about-birthday-boy-trent-reznor/ | title=19 Things You Might Not Know About Birthday Boy Trent Reznor }}</ref> was born in [[New Castle, Pennsylvania]],<ref name="wargsancestry">{{cite web |url=http://www.wargs.com/other/reznor.html |title=Ancestry of Trent Reznor compiled by William Addams Reitwiesner |publisher=Wargs.com |access-date=2017-01-05 |archive-date=August 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820081455/http://www.wargs.com/other/reznor.html |url-status=live }}</ref> on May 17, 1965,<ref>{{cite news|title=Monitor|newspaper=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=May 18, 2012|issue=1207|page=29}}</ref> the son of Nancy Lou (née Clark) and Michael Reznor.<ref name="George Reznor">{{cite news | title = George Watson Reznor | newspaper = [[The Herald (Sharon)|The Herald]] | date = April 1, 2007 | url = http://www.sharon-herald.com/fullobits/local_story_093100425.html?start:int=0 | access-date = 2007-11-06 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071011161755/http://sharon-herald.com/fullobits/local_story_093100425.html?start:int=0 | archive-date = October 11, 2007 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> He is of German and Irish descent, and grew up in [[Mercer, Pennsylvania|Mercer]].<ref name="wargsancestry" /> His great-grandfather, George Reznor, founded the heating and air conditioning manufacturer Reznor Company in 1884.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://reznor.eu/about-us/ |title=About Us |access-date=November 3, 2021 |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227155027/https://reznor.eu/about-us/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LCDW-V56/george-foster-reznor-1884-1956 |title=Archived copy |access-date=November 3, 2021 |archive-date=November 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130194755/https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LCDW-V56/george-foster-reznor-1884-1956 |url-status=live }}</ref> After his parents divorced when he was six years old, Reznor's sister Tera lived with their mother while he went to live with his maternal grandparents.<ref>{{cite magazine | magazine = [[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] | title = The Shadow of Death | first = Marc | last = Spitz | date = June 1, 2005}}</ref> He began playing the piano at the age of 12 and showed an early aptitude for music.<ref name="int12">{{cite magazine | last = Dougherty | first = Steve | author2 = Bryan Alexander | author3 = Tom Nugent | author4 = John Hannah | title = The Music of Rage | magazine = [[People (magazine)|People]] | date = February 6, 1995 | url = http://nothing.nin.net/int12.html | access-date = 2007-12-06 | archive-date = March 3, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303200711/http://nothing.nin.net/int12.html | url-status = live }}</ref> His grandfather told ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' in February 1995, "He was a good kid [...] a [[Boy Scouts of America|Boy Scout]] who loved to skateboard, build model planes, and play the piano. Music was his life, from the time he was a wee boy. He was so gifted."<ref name="int12" />

Reznor has acknowledged that his sheltered life left him feeling isolated from the outside world. In a September 1994 interview with ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', he said of his career choices, "I don't know why I want to do these things, other than my desire to escape from Small Town, U.S.A., to dismiss the boundaries, to explore. It isn't a bad place where I grew up, but there was nothing going on but the cornfields. My life experience came from watching movies, watching TV and reading books and looking at magazines. And when your culture comes from watching TV every day, you're bombarded with images of things that seem cool, places that seem interesting, people who have jobs and careers and opportunities. None of that happened where I was. You're almost taught to realize it's not for you."<ref name="RS 1994">{{cite magazine | last = Gold | first = Jonathan | title = Love it to Death |magazine = [[Rolling Stone]] | issue = 690 | date=  September 9, 1994 }}</ref> However, in April 1995, he told ''[[Details (magazine)|Details]]'' that he did not "want to give the impression it was a miserable childhood".<ref name="Details">{{cite magazine|last=Heath |first=Chris |author-link=Chris Heath |title=The Art of Darkness |magazine=[[Details (magazine)|Details]] |date=April 1995 |url=http://9inchnails.com/articles/the-art-of-darkness.php |access-date=2015-04-15 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301233126/http://9inchnails.com/articles/the-art-of-darkness.php |archive-date=March 1, 2009 }}</ref>

Reznor would later recall, "The first concert I ever saw was the [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]] in 1976. The excitement of the night struck a chord with me and I remember thinking, 'Someday I'd love to be up on that stage.'"<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Kerrang!]]|date=1 July 2000|url=https://www.theninhotline.com/archives/textarch/article/kerrang070100.html|title=Trent Reznor Comes Clean}}</ref> At [[Mercer Area Middle-High School|Mercer Area Junior/Senior High School]], he learned to play the tenor saxophone and tuba, and was a member of both the [[jazz band]] and [[marching band]]. The school's former band director remembered him as "very upbeat and friendly".<ref name="int12"/> He became involved in theater while in high school, being awarded the "Best in Drama" accolade by his classmates for his roles as [[Judas Iscariot|Judas]] in ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]'' and Professor Harold Hill in ''[[The Music Man]]''. He graduated in 1983 and enrolled at [[Allegheny College]] in [[Meadville, Pennsylvania|Meadville]], where he studied [[computer engineering]].<ref name="Film Spot">{{cite web | title = Trent Reznor Bio | publisher = Film Spot | url = http://www.filmspot.com/people/441775/trent-reznor/bio.html | access-date = 2007-11-09 }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Career==
===Early projects===
While still in high school, Reznor joined local band Option 30 and played three shows a week with them. After a year of college, he dropped out to pursue a career in music in [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]].<ref name="int12"/> His first band in Cleveland was the Urge, a cover band.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/homegrown/index.ssf?/homegrown/more/reznor/conspire.html |title=Trent Reznor: Area Co-conspirators |publisher=Cleveland.com |access-date=December 29, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206074325/http://www.cleveland.com/homegrown/index.ssf?%2Fhomegrown%2Fmore%2Freznor%2Fconspire.html |archive-date=February 6, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2011/08/17/before-trent-reznor-was-metal-he-had-a-flock-of-seagulls-haircut/ | title=Before Trent Reznor Was Metal He Had A Flock Of Seagulls Haircut | date=August 17, 2011 | access-date=29 December 2015 | author=Neilstein, Vince | archive-date=September 18, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918233745/http://www.metalsucks.net/2011/08/17/before-trent-reznor-was-metal-he-had-a-flock-of-seagulls-haircut/ | url-status=live }}</ref> In 1985, he joined [[The Innocent (band)|The Innocent]] as a keyboardist; they released one album, ''Livin' in the Street'', but Reznor left the band after three months.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/nine-inch-nails-with-teeth | title=Nine Inch Nails: With Teeth | magazine=[[Slant Magazine]] | date=May 3, 2005 | access-date=December 19, 2015 | author=Cinquemani, Sal | archive-date=September 24, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924152217/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/nine-inch-nails-with-teeth | url-status=live }}</ref> In 1986, he joined local band [[Exotic Birds]] and appeared with them as a fictional band called The Problems in the 1987 film ''[[Light of Day]]''.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal|last=Bukszpan|first=Daniel|publisher=Barnes & Noble Books|year=2003|isbn=0-7607-4218-9|location=New York|page=173}}</ref> During this time, Reznor also contributed on [[Keyboardist|keyboards]] to the band Slam Bamboo<ref>{{cite web | title = Trent Reznor | website = [[IMDb]] | url = https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0722153/ | access-date = 2007-11-06 | archive-date = June 19, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180619051109/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0722153/ | url-status = live }}</ref> and briefly joined the [[New wave music|new wave]] band [[Lucky Pierre (band)|Lucky Pierre]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/rftmusic/2008/08/trent_reznors_cleveland_peers_hot_tin_roof_lucky_pierre_prick_kevin_mcmahon_new_music_communique.php | title=Trent Reznor's Cleveland Peers and Influences: Lucky Pierre, Prick, Hot Tin Roof | publisher=[[The Riverfront Times]] | date=August 20, 2008 | accessdate=March 1, 2014 | author=Zaleski, Annie | archive-url=https://archive.today/20140301213324/http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/rftmusic/2008/08/trent_reznors_cleveland_peers_hot_tin_roof_lucky_pierre_prick_kevin_mcmahon_new_music_communique.php | archive-date=March 1, 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="prick">{{cite web|url=http://www.prickmusic.com/press/friday-pd-dec2002.htm |title=Regrouping in Cleveland |publisher=[[The Plain Dealer]] |date=December 27, 2002 |accessdate=March 1, 2014 |author=Cherry, Robert |url-status=unfit |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030423205924/http://www.prickmusic.com/press/friday-pd-dec2002.htm |archivedate=April 23, 2003 }}</ref>

Reznor got a job at Cleveland's Right Track Studio as an assistant engineer and janitor.<ref name="AMG">{{cite web | author = Huey, Steve | url = {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5033|pure_url=yes}} | title = Nine Inch Nails | access-date = 2006-11-24 | website = [[AllMusic]]}}</ref> Studio owner Bart Koster later commented, "He is so focused in everything he does. When that guy waxed the floor, it looked great."<ref name="int12"/> Reznor asked Koster for permission to record [[Demo (music)|demos]] of his own songs for free during unused studio time. Koster agreed, remarking that it cost him "just a little wear on [his] tape heads".<ref name="int12" />

===Nine Inch Nails===
{{Main|Nine Inch Nails}}
[[File:Trent Reznor Lollapalooza 1991.jpg|thumb|upright|Reznor performing at the 1991 [[Lollapalooza]] festival]]
While assembling the earliest [[Nine Inch Nails]] recordings, Reznor was unable to find a band that could articulate his songs as he wanted. Instead, inspired by [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], he played all the instruments except drums himself.<ref>{{cite magazine | title = The Truth About Trent | magazine = Option | last = Fine | first = Jason | date=  July–August 1994}}</ref> He continued in this role on most Nine Inch Nails studio recordings, though he has occasionally involved other musicians, assistants, drummers, and rhythm experts. Several labels responded favorably to the demo material, and Reznor signed with [[TVT Records]].<ref name="AMG" /> Nine selections from the Right Track demos were unofficially released years later in 1994 as ''Purest Feeling'' and many of these songs appeared in revised form on ''[[Pretty Hate Machine]]'', Reznor's first official release under the Nine Inch Nails name.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-12 |title=Revisiting 'Pretty Hate Machine', The Most Devastating Break-Up Album Ever |url=https://junkee.com/nine-inch-nails-pretty-hate-machine-masterpiece/273737 |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=Junkee |language=en-US}}</ref>

''Pretty Hate Machine''  was released in 1989 and was a moderate commercial success,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.spin.com/trent-reznor-upward-spiral-nine-inch-nails-spin-cover-september-2013/ | title=Trent Reznor's Upward Spiral | work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] | date=August 25, 2013 | access-date=December 19, 2015 | author=Marchese, David | archive-date=December 22, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222082755/http://www.spin.com/trent-reznor-upward-spiral-nine-inch-nails-spin-cover-september-2013/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/aug/08/the-nine-lives-of-trent-reznor | title=The nine lives of Trent Reznor | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=August 8, 2013 | access-date=December 19, 2015 | author=Beaumont, Mark | archive-date=May 10, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510204404/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/aug/08/the-nine-lives-of-trent-reznor | url-status=live }}</ref> certified [[Music recording sales certification|Gold]] in 1992.<ref name="RIAA.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] |title=Gold and Platinum database |access-date=2007-08-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626050454/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH |archive-date=June 26, 2007 }}</ref> Amid pressure from his record label to produce a follow-up to ''Pretty Hate Machine'', Reznor secretly began recording under various pseudonyms to avoid record company interference, resulting in an [[Extended play|EP]] called ''[[Broken (Nine Inch Nails EP)|Broken]]'' (1992).<ref>{{cite magazine | title = Nine Inch Nails  | magazine = [[Musician (magazine)|Musician]] |date=March 1994}}</ref> Nine Inch Nails was included in the [[Lollapalooza]] tour in the summer of 1991, and won a [[Grammy Award]] in 1993 under "Best Heavy Metal Performance" for the song "[[Wish (Nine Inch Nails song)|Wish]]".<ref name="Lollapalooza">{{cite web | title = Nine Inch Nails – Timeline | publisher = rockonthenet.com | url = http://www.rockonthenet.com/artists-n/nineinchnails_main.htm | access-date = 2007-11-11 | archive-date = August 5, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130805140334/http://rockonthenet.com/artists-n/nineinchnails_main.htm | url-status = live }}</ref>

Nine Inch Nails' second full-length album, ''[[The Downward Spiral]]'', entered the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart in 1994 at number two,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/kidsnewsday/content.ssf?/homegrown/index.ssf?/homegrown/more/reznor/timeline.html |title=Trent Reznor: Timeline |publisher=Cleveland.com |access-date=2006-12-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011112200/http://www.cleveland.com/kidsnewsday/content.ssf?%2Fhomegrown%2Findex.ssf%3F%2Fhomegrown%2Fmore%2Freznor%2Ftimeline.html |archive-date=October 11, 2007 }}</ref> and remains the highest-selling Nine Inch Nails release in America.<ref name="RIAA.com"/> To record the album, Reznor rented and moved into the [[10050 Cielo Drive|10050 Cielo Drive mansion]], where the [[Tate–LaBianca murders]] had been perpetrated by the [[Manson Family]] in 1969.<ref name="Le Pig">{{cite magazine | last = Ali | first = Lorraine | title = Making Records – Where Manson Murdered Helter Shelter | magazine = [[Entertainment Weekly]] | date = March 18, 1994 | url = https://ew.com/article/1994/03/18/making-records-where-manson-killed/ | access-date = 2007-11-11 | archive-date = May 19, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080519182522/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,301460,00.html | url-status = live }}</ref> He built a studio space in the house, which he renamed Le Pig, after the word that was scrawled on the front door in [[Sharon Tate]]'s blood by her murderers. Reznor told ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' that, despite the notoriety attached to the house, he chose to record there because he "looked at a lot of places, and this just happened to be the one I liked most".<ref name="Le Pig"/> He explained that he was fascinated by the house due to his interest in "American folklore", but has stated that he does not "want to support serial-killer bullshit."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lynchnet.com/lh/lhrs3.html |title=Lost Highway Article – Rolling Stone 3–6–97 |publisher=Lynchnet.com |date=1997-03-06 |access-date=2017-01-05 |archive-date=January 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102094103/http://www.lynchnet.com/lh/lhrs3.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Nine Inch Nails toured extensively over the next few years, including a performance at [[Woodstock '94]], although Reznor admitted to the audience that he did not like to play large venues.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.9inchnails.com/articles/articles.php?id=8 | title = Love It To Death: Trent Reznor Of Nine Inch Nails Preaches The Dark Gospel Of Sex, Pain, And Rock & Roll | author = Jonathan Gold | publisher = [[Rolling Stone]] Issue #690, archived on Painful Convictions | date = September 8, 1994 | access-date = 2007-03-31 | archive-date = May 5, 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060505120739/http://www.9inchnails.com/articles/articles.php?id=8 | url-status = live }}</ref> Around this time, Reznor's studio perfectionism,<ref>{{cite magazine | title = Trent Reznor | magazine = [[Alternative Press (music magazine)|Alternative Press]] |date=January 1998 | issue = 114}}</ref> struggles with addiction, and bouts of writer's block prolonged the production of a follow-up to ''[[The Downward Spiral]]''.<ref name = "Hell">{{cite magazine | title = To Hell and back | author = Chick, Steve | magazine = [[Kerrang!]] | date = March 30, 2005}}</ref>

In 1999, the double album ''[[The Fragile (Nine Inch Nails album)|The Fragile]]'' was released. It was partially successful, garnering generally positive critical reception, but lost money for Reznor's label, so he funded the North American [[Fragility Tour]] out of his own pocket. A further six years followed before the next Nine Inch Nails album ''[[With Teeth]]'' was released. Reznor went into rehab during the time between the two records, and was able to manage his drug addictions. ''With Teeth'' reached No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' 200.<ref name="BillboardHistory">{{cite magazine | url = {{BillboardURLbyName|artist=nine inch nails|chart=all}}  | title = Artist Chart History – Nine Inch Nails | magazine = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | access-date = 2006-12-18}}</ref><ref name="SMH">{{cite news | url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/music/hammer-time-over/2005/08/04/1122748732635.html | title = Hammer time over | author = Roberts, Jo | newspaper = [[Sydney Morning Herald]] | date = August 5, 2005 | access-date = 2006-11-28 | archive-date = November 3, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121103074354/http://www.smh.com.au/news/music/hammer-time-over/2005/08/04/1122748732635.html | url-status = live }}</ref> After ''With Teeth'', Reznor released the concept album ''[[Year Zero (album)|Year Zero]]'' in 2007, which has an [[alternate reality game]] themed after the album (see [[Year Zero (game)]]) which is about how the current policies of the American government will affect the world in the year 2022. After ''Year Zero''{{'s}} release, Reznor broke from large record labels and released two albums, ''[[Ghosts I–IV]]'' and ''[[The Slip (album)|The Slip]]'', independently on his own label, The Null Corporation. In 2009, Nine Inch Nails went on hiatus following the [[Wave Goodbye Tour]]. Nine Inch Nails returned to large record labels in 2013, signing with [[Columbia Records]], and releasing the album ''[[Hesitation Marks]]'' that September. 

Atticus Ross, a frequent collaborator of Reznor's since 2002, was announced as an official member of Nine Inch Nails in 2016 – the first and only other official member of the band besides Reznor himself. With Nine Inch Nails' new incarnation as a duo, they released a trilogy of EPs from 2016 to 2018, tied together by a loose concept and spanning a wide variety of musical styles. 2016's ''[[Not the Actual Events]]'' saw a return to the heavier industrial style of the 1990s, while 2017's ''[[Add Violence]]'' instead focused on a more electronic sound and 2018's ''[[Bad Witch]]'' ventured into experimental jazz.

===Collaboration with other artists===
[[File:Trent Reznor Self-Destruct.jpg|thumb|Reznor performing during the Self-Destruct tour, 1994–1995]]
One of Reznor's earliest collaborations was a [[Ministry (band)|Ministry]] side project in 1990 under the name of [[1000 Homo DJs]]. Reznor sang vocals on a cover of [[Black Sabbath]]'s "[[Supernaut (EP)|Supernaut]]". Due to legal issues with his label, Reznor's vocals had to be distorted to make his voice unrecognizable. The band also recorded additional versions with [[Al Jourgensen]] doing vocals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/1000+Homo+DJs|title=1000 Homo DJs Discography at Discogs|publisher=Discogs.com|access-date=2012-02-13|archive-date=February 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208034426/http://www.discogs.com/artist/1000+Homo+DJs|url-status=live}}</ref> While there is still debate as to which version is Reznor and which is Jourgensen, it has been definitively stated that Reznor's vocals were used in the [[TVT Records]]' ''Black Box'' box set.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/album/black-box-waxtrax-records--the-first-13-years-r209175|title=Black Box: WaxTrax! Records – The First 13 Years – Various Artists|website=Allmusic.com|access-date=2012-02-13|archive-date=April 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430031027/http://allmusic.com/album/black-box-waxtrax-records--the-first-13-years-r209175|url-status=live}}</ref> He also performed with another of Jourgensen's side projects, [[Revolting Cocks]], in 1990. He said: "I saw a whole side of humanity that I didn't know existed. It was decadence on a new level, but with a sense of humor."<ref>''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]'', March 1991.</ref>

Reznor sang the vocals on the 1991 Pigface track "Suck" from their first album ''[[Gub]]'', which also featured production work from [[Steve Albini]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/189190-caught-in-the-machine-nine-inch-nails-suck-2495576689.html |title=Caught in the Machine: Nine Inch Nails – "Suck" |work=[[PopMatters]] |date=December 15, 2014 |access-date=March 28, 2020 |first=AJ |last=Ramirez |archive-date=March 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311115355/https://www.popmatters.com/189190-caught-in-the-machine-nine-inch-nails-suck-2495576689.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Reznor sang backing vocals on "Past the Mission" on [[Tori Amos]]' 1994 album ''[[Under the Pink]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=1994: The 40 Best Records From Mainstream Alternative's Greatest Year|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/1994-the-40-best-records-from-mainstream-alternatives-greatest-year-20140417/tori-amos-under-the-pink-19691231|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=December 6, 2014|date=April 17, 2014|archive-date=November 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141125142144/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/1994-the-40-best-records-from-mainstream-alternatives-greatest-year-20140417/tori-amos-under-the-pink-19691231|url-status=live}}</ref> He produced [[Marilyn Manson]]'s first album, ''[[Portrait of an American Family]]'' (1994), and several tracks on Manson's ''[[Smells Like Children]]'' (1995) and ''[[Antichrist Superstar]]'' (1996). "I went right into doing a Manson record," Reznor recalled of the latter, "which was a way of staying on tour, mentally. Every night was some ridiculous scenario. When that finished, I was really in a low emotional place, disillusioned."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Paul|last=Elliott|title=Going Down…|magazine=[[Kerrang!]]|date=25 September 1999|page=14}}</ref>

Relations between Reznor and Manson subsequently soured. Manson later said: "I had to make a choice between being friends and having a mediocre career, or breaking things off and continuing to succeed. It got too competitive. And he can't expect me not to want to be more successful than him."<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Collins |first= Andrew |author-link=Andrew Collins (broadcaster)|date= November 1998 |title= And The Freak Shall Inherit The Earth |magazine=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=146}}</ref>

In the video for David Bowie's "[[I'm Afraid of Americans]]" (1997), Reznor plays a stalker who shows up wherever Bowie goes. In a 2016 ''Rolling Stone'' article after Bowie's death, Reznor recalled how touring with Bowie in 1995–96 inspired Reznor to stay sober.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/trent-reznor-recalls-how-david-bowie-helped-him-get-sober-229659/|title=Trent Reznor Recalls How David Bowie Helped Him Get Sober|first1=Trent|last1=Reznor|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=January 26, 2016|access-date=March 28, 2020|archive-date=January 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101144355/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/trent-reznor-recalls-how-david-bowie-helped-him-get-sober-229659/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Reznor produced a remix of [[The Notorious B.I.G.]]'s song "Victory", featuring [[Busta Rhymes]], in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Puff-Daddy-The-Family-Featuring-Notorious-BIG-The--Busta-Rhymes-Victory-Remixes/release/517450 |title=Puff Daddy & The Family Featuring Notorious B.I.G., The* & Busta Rhymes – Victory (Remixes) (CD) at Discogs |year=1998 |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=2010-07-09 |archive-date=April 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424041247/http://www.discogs.com/Puff-Daddy-The-Family-Featuring-Notorious-BIG-The--Busta-Rhymes-Victory-Remixes/release/517450 |url-status=live }}</ref> Under the name [[Tapeworm (band)|Tapeworm]], Reznor collaborated for nearly 10 years with [[Danny Lohner]], [[Maynard James Keenan]], and [[Atticus Ross]], but the project was eventually terminated before any official material was released.<ref name="Tapeworm">{{cite web | url = http://www.nin.com/access/5_08_04/index.asp | title = Nine Inch Nails: Access | author = Trent Reznor | publisher = [[Nine Inch Nails]] | date = May 8, 2004 | access-date = 2007-05-21 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070718105114/http://www.nin.com/access/5_08_04/index.asp | archive-date=July 18, 2007}}</ref> The only known released Tapeworm material is a reworked version of a track called "Vacant" (retitled "[[Passive (song)|Passive]]") on [[A Perfect Circle]]'s 2004 album ''[[eMOTIVe]]'',<ref name="Vacant/Passive">{{cite web | title = A Perfect Circle – eMOTIVe | website = Sputnik Music | date = July 26, 2005 | url = http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=1021 | access-date = 2007-11-11 | archive-date = July 2, 2012 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120702220549/http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/2966/A-Perfect-Circle-eMOTIVe/ | url-status = live }}</ref> as well as a track called "Potions" on [[Puscifer]]'s 2009 album ''[["C" Is for (Please Insert Sophomoric Genitalia Reference Here)|"C" Is for]]''.
[[File:NIN2008 (cropped).jpg|left|thumb|Reznor in March 2008]]
In 2006, Reznor played his first "solo" shows at [[Neil Young]]'s annual [[Bridge School Benefit]]. Backed by a four piece string section, he performed stripped-down versions of many Nine Inch Nails songs.<ref name="Bridge School">{{cite web | last = Maher | first = Dave | title = Brian Wilson, Neil Young, Reznor Play Bridge Benefit | publisher = [[Pitchfork Media]] | date = September 12, 2006 | url = http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/38490-brian-wilson-neil-young-reznor-play-bridge-benefit | access-date = 2007-11-07 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080127101628/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/38490-brian-wilson-neil-young-reznor-play-bridge-benefit | archive-date = January 27, 2008 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> Reznor featured on [[El-P]]'s 2007 album ''[[I'll Sleep When You're Dead]]'', providing guest vocals on "Flyentology". Reznor co-produced [[Saul Williams]]' 2007 album ''[[The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust!]]'' after Williams toured with Nine Inch Nails in 2005 and 2006. Reznor convinced Williams to release the album as a free download, while giving fans the option of paying $5 for higher quality files, or downloading all of the songs at a lower quality for free.<ref name="CNET Niggy Tadust">{{cite web | last = Sandoval | first = Greg | title = Trent Reznor: Take my music, please | publisher = [[News.com]] | date = October 30, 2007 | url = https://www.cnet.com/news/trent-reznor-take-my-music-please/ | access-date = 2007-11-07 | archive-date = January 30, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210130021346/https://www.cnet.com/news/trent-reznor-take-my-music-please/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="NY Entertainment Niggy Tardust">{{cite magazine | last = Westhoff | first = Ben | title = Trent Reznor and Saul Williams Discuss Their New Collaboration, Mourn OiNK | magazine = [[New York (magazine)|New York]] | date = October 30, 2007 | url = http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2007/10/trent_reznor_and_saul_williams.html | access-date = 2007-11-07 | archive-date = October 31, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071031021032/http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2007/10/trent_reznor_and_saul_williams.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Reznor was also credited as "Musical Consultant" on the 2004 film ''[[Man on Fire (2004 film)|Man on Fire]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0328107/fullcredits |title=Man on Fire (2004) – Full cast and crew |publisher=IMDb |access-date=2008-10-27 |archive-date=April 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401021048/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0328107/fullcredits |url-status=live }}</ref> The movie features six Nine Inch Nails songs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0722153/ |title=Trent Reznor |publisher=IMDb |access-date=2008-10-27 |archive-date=June 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619051109/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0722153/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Reznor produced songs for [[Jane's Addiction]] at his home studio in [[Beverly Hills, California]]. The first recordings (new versions of the early tracks "Chip Away" and "Whores") were released simultaneously on Jane's Addiction's website and the [[NINJA 2009 Tour Sampler]] digital EP.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

In November 2012, Reznor revealed on [[Reddit]] that he would be working with [[Queens of the Stone Age]] on a song for their sixth studio album, ''[[...Like Clockwork]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/48581-trent-reznor-reveals-work-with-queens-of-the-stone-age-hints-at-nine-inch-nails-future-in-reddit-ama/ |title=Trent Reznor Reveals Work With Queens of the Stone Age, Hints at Nine Inch Nails Future in Reddit AMA &#124; News |website=Pitchfork |date=November 13, 2012 |access-date=2012-11-19 |archive-date=June 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623082530/http://pitchfork.com/news/48581-trent-reznor-reveals-work-with-queens-of-the-stone-age-hints-at-nine-inch-nails-future-in-reddit-ama/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He had worked with the band once before, providing backing vocals on the title track of the 2007 album ''[[Era Vulgaris (album)|Era Vulgaris]]''. [[Josh Homme]] has since revealed that Reznor was originally meant to produce the album.

In January 2013, Reznor appeared in a documentary entitled ''[[Sound City (film)|Sound City]]'', directed by former [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] drummer and [[Foo Fighters]] frontman [[Dave Grohl]].<ref>"Mark Monroe." IMDb. [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0598531/ Mark Monroe IMDb page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412141443/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0598531/ |date=April 12, 2018 }} IMDb, n.d. Web. January 22, 2013.</ref> ''Sound City'' is based on real-life recording studio [[Sound City Studios]], originating in Van Nuys, California. It has housed the works of some of the most famed names in music history since its founding in 1969. The film was chosen as an official selection for the 2013 [[Sundance Film Festival]] and was available to download from its official website on February 1, 2013.<ref>Grohl, Dave, and Mark Monroe. [http://buy.soundcitymovie.com/ "Sound City."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907154417/http://buy.soundcitymovie.com/ |date=September 7, 2015 }} . A Film by Dave Grohl. Available in 8 Languages. Roswell Films, 2013. Web. January 22, 2013.</ref> Reznor also contributed to the [[Sound City (film)#Soundtrack|soundtrack]] for the film, on the track "[[Mantra (Dave Grohl song)|Mantra]]", along with Dave Grohl and [[Josh Homme]].<ref name="CoS">{{cite magazine | url=https://consequence.net/2012/12/dave-grohl-sound-city-album-features-trent-reznor-josh-homme-and-more/ | title=Dave Grohl's Sound City album features Trent Reznor, Josh Homme, and more | magazine=[[Consequence of Sound]] | date=December 14, 2012 | access-date=March 7, 2013 | author=Young, Alex | archive-date=February 18, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218233501/https://consequence.net/2012/12/dave-grohl-sound-city-album-features-trent-reznor-josh-homme-and-more/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="p4k-1">{{cite web | url=http://pitchfork.com/news/48955-nirvanamccartney-track-on-soundtrack-to-dave-grohl-directed-film-grohl-also-teams-with-reznor-homme-more-for-new-collaborations/ | title=Nirvana/McCartney Track on Soundtrack to Dave Grohl-Directed Film; Grohl Also Teams With Reznor, Homme, More for New Collaborations | publisher=[[Pitchfork Media|Pitchfork]] | date=December 14, 2012 | access-date=March 7, 2013 | author=Pelly, Jenn | archive-date=March 12, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312050909/http://pitchfork.com/news/48955-nirvanamccartney-track-on-soundtrack-to-dave-grohl-directed-film-grohl-also-teams-with-reznor-homme-more-for-new-collaborations/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

Reznor appeared in a live performance with [[Fleetwood Mac]]'s [[Lindsey Buckingham]], Dave Grohl, and Queens of the Stone Age at the [[56th Annual Grammy Awards|2014 Grammy Award ceremony]]. In an interview with a [[New Zealand]] media outlet, Reznor explained his thought process at the time that he was considering his participation in the performance:

{{cquote|I spent a long time talking about the pros and cons. You know, "Do we want to be on a shit show on TV?" No, not really. "Do we want to be affiliated with the Grammys?" No, not really. "Would we like to reach a large audience and actually do something with integrity on our terms?" Well, yeah. Let's roll the dice and go into it with the best intentions, with a performance we think is worthy and might–you know–stand out from the crowd. Or it might not!<ref>{{cite web|title=Trent Reznor says Grammys were "an utter waste of time"|url=http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/news/38504/Trent-Reznor-says-Grammys-were-an-utter-waste-of-time|work=Faster Louder|access-date=February 21, 2014|author=Tom Mann|date=February 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305021451/http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/news/38504/Trent-Reznor-says-Grammys-were-an-utter-waste-of-time|archive-date=March 5, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>}}In 2019, Reznor received a songwriting credit on the [[Lil Nas X]] song "[[Old Town Road]]", due to the song heavily sampling the 2008 Nine Inch Nails instrumental track "[[34 Ghosts IV]]". It reached No. 1 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in April 2019, with Reznor and Ross both receiving songwriting and production credit.<ref name="Billboard">Unterberger A (April 11, 2019). [http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8506451/hot-100-alternative-rock-number-one-writing-credit "A History of Alt-Rockers Getting Writing Credits on Hot 100 No. 1s by Other Artists"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503021550/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8506451/hot-100-alternative-rock-number-one-writing-credit|date=May 3, 2019}}. [[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628072648/http://www.billboard.com/|date=June 28, 2010}} Retrieved May 10, 2019.</ref> The song would go on to become the chart's longest-running #1 hit, staying at the top for [[List of Billboard Hot 100 chart achievements and milestones#Most weeks at number one|a record 19 weeks]]. Reznor gave clearance for the use of the sample and expressed support for the song, but declined an invitation to appear in the music video.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Grow |first=Kory |date=2019-10-25 |title=Trent Reznor Breaks Silence on 'Undeniably Hooky' 'Old Town Road' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/trent-reznor-old-town-road-903889/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902201339/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/trent-reznor-old-town-road-903889/ |archive-date=September 2, 2021 |access-date=2021-09-02}}</ref>

In 2020, Reznor collaborated with [[Tobacco (musician)|Tobacco]] on his fifth studio album ''[[Hot Wet and Sassy]]'' on the song "Baby Sitter" after they had previously toured together in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berman |first=Stuart |title=TOBACCO: Hot Wet & Sassy |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/tobacco-hot-wet-and-sassy/ |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tobacco – Hot Wet and Sassy Review |url=https://www.stilllisteningmagazine.com/reviews/tobacco-hot-wet-and-sassy |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=Still Listening |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lacroix |first=David |date=2020-10-31 |title=SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TOBACCO - HOT WET & SASSY |url=https://spillmagazine.com/spill-album-review-tobacco-hot-wet-sassy/ |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=The Spill Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=kCYdo29GCv3844An&v=Zj8rgqM5dBQ&feature=youtu.be |title=TOBACCO @ Fox Theatre Atlanta GA |date=2018-09-29 |last=sunlips |access-date=2024-11-27 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

In 2021, it was that revealed Reznor and [[Atticus Ross]] would be producing [[Halsey (singer)|Halsey]]'s fourth studio album ''[[If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power]]''. The album was released on August 27, 2021. Reznor and Ross recorded instrumentation and produced the album from a studio in Los Angeles, while Halsey sang at a studio in the [[Turks and Caicos Islands]]. The album, which largely abandoned Halsey's usual pop style for a heavier industrial approach, received critical acclaim.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-28|title=Halsey Announces New Album Produced by Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/halsey-announces-new-album-produced-by-nine-inch-nails-trent-reznor-and-atticus-ross/|access-date=2021-07-31|website=Pitchfork|language=en-US|archive-date=July 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714005216/https://pitchfork.com/news/halsey-announces-new-album-produced-by-nine-inch-nails-trent-reznor-and-atticus-ross/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Pareles|first=Jon|date=2021-08-26|title=Backed by Nine Inch Nails, Halsey Connects Past and Future|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/26/arts/music/halsey-if-i-cant-have-love-i-want-power-review.html|access-date=2021-09-02|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=September 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903163236/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/26/arts/music/halsey-if-i-cant-have-love-i-want-power-review.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Album review: Halsey – If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power|url=https://www.kerrang.com/reviews/album-review-halsey-if-i-cant-have-love-i-want-power/|access-date=2021-09-02|website=Kerrang!|date=August 27, 2021 |archive-date=August 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831072642/https://www.kerrang.com/reviews/album-review-halsey-if-i-cant-have-love-i-want-power/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2023, Reznor and Ross joined [[Dave Sitek]] and [[Hudson Mohawke]] to create the virtual supergroup WitchGang.<ref>{{Cite web|website=NIN.Wiki|url=https://www.nin.wiki/WitchGang |title=Nine Inch Nails - WitchGang |date=May 14, 2024 }}</ref> The group's first song, "Nothing's Alright", was released in December.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSI4GJMDY-s | title=WitchGang - Nothing's Alright (Lyric Video) | website=[[YouTube]] | date=December 14, 2023 }}</ref>

===How to Destroy Angels===
In April 2010, it was announced that Reznor had formed a new band with his wife, [[Mariqueen Maandig]], and [[Atticus Ross]], called [[How to Destroy Angels (band)|How to Destroy Angels]].<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://thequietus.com/articles/05555-news-the-social-network-golden-globes-winner-best-original-score-trent-reznor | title=Trent Reznor Score Wins Golden Globe | magazine=[[The Quietus]] | date=January 17, 2011 | access-date=December 19, 2015 | archive-date=June 28, 2016 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20160628112758/http://thequietus.com/articles/05555-news-the-social-network-golden-globes-winner-best-original-score-trent-reznor | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name = "HF1">[[HitFix]] Staff (December 8, 2011). [http://www.hitfix.com/articles/trent-reznor-pegs-early-2012-release-date-for-first-how-to-destroy-angels-album-will "Trent Reznor pegs early 2012 release date for How to Destroy Angels full-length".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027210422/http://www.hitfix.com/articles/trent-reznor-pegs-early-2012-release-date-for-first-how-to-destroy-angels-album-will |date=October 27, 2016 }} [http://www.hitfix.com/ ''HitFix.''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111064756/http://www.hitfix.com/ |date=November 11, 2016 }} Retrieved December 29, 2011.</ref><ref name = "NBHAP1">Helbig R (June 3, 2010). [http://nothingbuthopeandpassion.com/136/how-to-destroy-angels/ "How to Destroy Angels".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426085558/http://nothingbuthopeandpassion.com/136/how-to-destroy-angels/ |date=April 26, 2012 }} [http://nothingbuthopeandpassion.com/ ''Nothing But Hope and Passion.''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112201839/http://nothingbuthopeandpassion.com/ |date=January 12, 2012 }} Retrieved December 29, 2011.</ref><ref name="TMN1">Martinelli M (June 8, 2010). [http://thenewmontreal.com/how-to-destroy-angels/ "How to Destroy Angels".] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426085604/http://thenewmontreal.com/how-to-destroy-angels/ |date=April 26, 2012 }} [http://thenewmontreal.com/ ''The New Montreal.''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115131914/http://thenewmontreal.com/ |date=November 15, 2012 }} Retrieved December 29, 2011.</ref> The group digitally released a [[How to Destroy Angels (How to Destroy Angels EP)|self-titled six song EP]] on June 1, 2010, with the retail edition becoming available on July 6, 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.howtodestroyangels.com/home.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430093332/http://howtodestroyangels.com/home.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-04-30 |title=How to Destroy Angels |publisher=How to Destroy Angels |access-date=2010-07-09 }}</ref> They covered the [[Bryan Ferry]] song "Is Your Love Strong Enough?"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/destroyangels/status/141996508655534080|title=Twitter|publisher=Twitter|access-date=October 22, 2012|archive-date=February 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207040405/https://twitter.com/destroyangels/status/141996508655534080|url-status=live}}</ref> for the [[The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (soundtrack)|soundtrack for ''The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'']], which was released on December 9, 2011.

On September 21, 2012, Reznor announced that the group's next release would be an EP entitled ''An Omen EP'', set for release on [[Columbia Records]] in November 2012, and that some of the EP's songs would later appear on the band's first full-length album in 2013.<ref>{{cite web| last = Martins| first = Chris| title = Trent Reznor's How to Destroy Angels to Release 'An Omen' EP| work = [[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]| date = September 21, 2012| url = https://www.spin.com/2012/09/trent-reznor-how-to-destroy-angels-omen-ep-columbia/| access-date = September 21, 2012| archive-date = November 18, 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151118054532/http://www.spin.com/2012/09/trent-reznor-how-to-destroy-angels-omen-ep-columbia/| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/47970-trent-reznors-how-to-destroy-angels-share-an-omen-ep-cover-art/ |title=Trent Reznor's How to Destroy Angels Share An Omen EP Cover Art |website=Pitchfork |date=September 24, 2012 |access-date=October 22, 2012 |archive-date=June 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604041010/http://pitchfork.com/news/47970-trent-reznors-how-to-destroy-angels-share-an-omen-ep-cover-art/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On October 8, 2012, they released a song and music video<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uBTUMADjGk | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008202737/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uBTUMADjGk&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=2012-10-08|title=How to destroy angels_ Keep it together_ [official |publisher=YouTube |access-date=2012-11-19}}</ref> from ''An Omen EP'' entitled "Keep it Together".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/48122-listen-new-track-from-trent-reznors-how-to-destroy-angels-keep-it-together/ |title=Listen: New Track From Trent Reznor's How to Destroy Angels: "Keep it Together" |website=Pitchfork |date=October 8, 2012 |access-date=October 22, 2012 |archive-date=October 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020161230/http://pitchfork.com/news/48122-listen-new-track-from-trent-reznors-how-to-destroy-angels-keep-it-together/ |url-status=live }}</ref> How to Destroy Angels announced in January 2013 that their first full-length album entitled ''Welcome Oblivion'' would be released on March 5 of the same year.<ref>Goodman, William. "Trent Reznor's How to Destroy Angels Drop New Video, LP Details." Fuse. [http://www.fuse.tv/2013/01/trent-reznor-how-to-destroy-angels-album-details Trent Reznor's How to Destroy Angels Drop New Video, LP Details.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115015921/http://www.fuse.tv/2013/01/trent-reznor-how-to-destroy-angels-album-details |date=January 15, 2013 }} N.p., January 10, 2013. Web. January 20, 2013.</ref>

===As an independent artist===
[[File:Trent Reznor with Nine Inch Nails -- California, 21 May 2009.jpg|thumb|upright|Reznor performing in May 2009]]
Following the release of ''Year Zero'', Reznor announced later that Nine Inch Nails had split from its contractual obligations with [[Interscope Records]], and would distribute its next major albums independently.<ref name="Interscope split">{{cite magazine | author = Cohen, Jonathan | url = http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1048419/nine-inch-nails-celebrates-free-agent-status | title = Nine Inch Nails Celebrates Free Agent Status | access-date = 2007-10-08 | magazine = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] | date = October 8, 2007 | archive-date = June 22, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180622112744/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1048419/nine-inch-nails-celebrates-free-agent-status | url-status = live }}</ref> In May 2008 Reznor founded The Null Corporation and Nine Inch Nails released the studio album [[The Slip (album)|''The Slip'']] as a free [[music download|digital download]]. In his appreciation for his following and fan base, and having no contractual obligation, he made "The Slip" available for free on his website, stating "This one's on me."<ref name="LA Weekly">{{cite web|url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/music/nine-inch-nails-radiohead-free-music-and-creative-competition/18995/ 
 |title=Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, Free Music and Creative Competition 
 |date=May 28, 2008 
 |first=Daphne 
 |last=Carr 
 |publisher=[[LA Weekly]]. [[New Times Media]] 
 |access-date=2008-06-09 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201155334/http://www.laweekly.com/music/music/nine-inch-nails-radiohead-free-music-and-creative-competition/18995/
 |archive-date=December 1, 2008
}}</ref> A month and a half after its online release, ''The Slip'' had been downloaded 1.4&nbsp;million times from the official Nine Inch Nails website.<ref>{{cite web
  | url = http://nin.com
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080605203813/http://www.nin.com/
  | archive-date = June 5, 2008
  | url-status = live
  | publisher = Nine Inch Nails
  | title = The Slip Download Map  | access-date = 2008-07-07}}</ref>

In February 2009, Reznor posted his thoughts about the future of Nine Inch Nails on NIN.com, stating that "I've been thinking for some time now it's time to make NIN disappear for a while."<ref>{{cite web
  | url = http://www.idiomag.com/peek/65302/nine_inch_nails
  | title = Nine Inch Nails to tour with Jane's Addicition, go on hiatus
  | access-date = 2009-02-18
  | date = February 17, 2009
  | publisher = [[idiomag]]. Idio, Ltd.
  | archive-date = March 5, 2009
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090305090202/http://www.idiomag.com/peek/65302/nine_inch_nails
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref> Reznor noted in an interview on the official website that while he has not stopped creating music as Nine Inch Nails, the group will not be touring in the foreseeable future.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Interview: Trent Reznor|last=Boucher|first=Geoff|date=July 2009|magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]|issue=188|url=https://www.mojo4music.com/articles/2379/mojo-issue-188-july-2009|quote="...he wouldn't say he was giving up the road for good but he does expect to set touring aside for a good decade or more so he can work on a major studio album ... There will be a record, I suspect, in the next couple of years but no touring."|access-date=January 29, 2020|archive-date=January 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129100321/https://www.mojo4music.com/articles/2379/mojo-issue-188-july-2009|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1613908/20090615/nine_inch_nails.jhtml
  | publisher = MTV. [[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]]
  | title = Trent Reznor Says Bonnaroo Was Nine Inch Nails' Last U.S. Show
  | last = Kaufman
  | first = Gil
  | date = June 15, 2009
  | access-date = 2009-08-06
  | archive-date = November 4, 2012
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121104064032/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1613908/trent-reznor-bonnaroo-was-nine-inch-nails-last-us-show.jhtml
  | url-status = dead }}</ref>

====Video games====
The [[Quake (original soundtrack)|original music]] from [[id Software]]'s 1996 video game ''[[Quake (video game)|Quake]]'' is credited to "Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails";<ref>{{cite web | title = Full cast and crew for Quake (1996) (VG) | website = Internet Movie Database | url = http://imdb.com/title/tt0152116/fullcredits | access-date = 2007-09-18 | archive-date = June 26, 2004 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040626155621/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0152116/fullcredits | url-status = live }}</ref> Reznor helped record sound effects and ambient audio, and the NIN logo appears on the nailgun ammunition boxes in the game.<ref name="Wired Quake">{{cite magazine | title = The Egos at Id | last = Laidlaw | first = Marc | magazine = [[Wired News]] | date = August 1996 | url = https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.08/id_pr.html | access-date = 2007-09-09 | archive-date = March 20, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140320172851/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.08/id_pr.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Reznor's association with [[id Software]] began with Reznor being a fan of the original ''[[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]''. He reunited with id Software in 2003 as the sound engineer for ''[[Doom 3]]'', though due to "time, money and bad management",<ref>{{cite web | author = Trent Reznor | title = Nine Inch Nails: Access | publisher = Nine Inch Nails | date=  July 21, 2004 | url = http://www.nin.com/access/7_21_04/index.php | access-date = 2007-11-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070514173115/http://www.nin.com/access/7_21_04/index.php | archive-date = May 14, 2007}}</ref> he had to abandon the project, and his audio work did not make it into the game's final release.

Nine Inch Nails' 2007 major studio recording, ''[[Year Zero (album)|Year Zero]]'', was released alongside an [[Year Zero (alternate reality game)|accompanying alternate reality game]].<ref name="MTVNews">{{cite web | last = Montgomery | first = James | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1552470/20070215/nine_inch_nails.jhtml | title = Weird web trail: conspiracy theory — or marketing for nine inch nails LP? | publisher = [[MTV News]] | date = February 15, 2007 | access-date = 2007-02-15 | archive-date = March 21, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120321182806/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1552470/nine-inch-nails-conspiracy-campaign.jhtml | url-status = dead }}</ref> With its lyrics written from the perspective of multiple fictitious characters, Reznor described ''Year Zero'' as a [[concept album]] criticizing the [[United States government]]'s current policies and how they will affect the world 15 years in the future.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gigwise.com/news.asp?contentid=29753 |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090704090256/http://www.gigwise.com/news.asp?contentid=29753 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 4, 2009 |title=Trent Reznor Blasts the American Government |work=Gigwise.com |first=Jason |last=Gregory |date=March 26, 2007 |access-date=2007-04-20 }}</ref> In July 2012, it was announced that Reznor had composed and performed the [[theme music]] for ''[[Call of Duty: Black Ops II]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2012/07/interview-trent-reznor-pens-black-ops-ii-theme-song/1#.T_yTYnmffZe|title=Interview: Trent Reznor Pens Black Ops II Theme Song|newspaper=USA Today|access-date=2012-07-10|date=July 10, 2012|archive-date=July 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711000144/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2012/07/interview-trent-reznor-pens-black-ops-ii-theme-song/1#.T_yTYnmffZe|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Film composition====
In 1994, Reznor produced the soundtrack for [[Oliver Stone]]'s film ''[[Natural Born Killers]]'', using a portable [[Pro Tools]] setup in his hotel room.<ref>{{cite magazine| newspaper = [[Los Angeles Times]]| title = Natural Born Thriller| date = October 1994| url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-02-ca-45644-story.html| access-date = October 9, 2017| archive-date = February 3, 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150203205156/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-10-02/entertainment/ca-45644_1_trent-reznor| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=An Interview with Charlie Clouser| url=http://www.theninhotline.net/archives/articles/xint2a.shtml| work=Scene Magazine| date=September 1996| access-date=February 3, 2015| archive-date=May 14, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170514071101/http://www.theninhotline.net/archives/articles/xint2a.shtml| url-status=dead}}</ref> Nine Inch Nails recorded an exclusive song, "[[Burn (Nine Inch Nails song)|Burn]]" for the film.<ref>Huxley (1997), p. 135</ref> The group also recorded a cover version of [[Joy Division]]'s "Dead Souls" for [[The Crow: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack|The Crow soundtrack]].

Reznor produced the soundtrack for [[David Lynch]]'s 1997 film ''[[Lost Highway (film)|Lost Highway]]''.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/david-lynch-and-trent-reznor-the-lost-boys-19970306
|title=David Lynch and Trent Reznor: The Lost Boys
|magazine=Rolling Stone
|date=March 6, 1997
|author=Mikal Gilmore
|access-date=October 9, 2017
|archive-date=September 11, 2017
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911190228/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/david-lynch-and-trent-reznor-the-lost-boys-19970306
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref>Huxley (1997), p. 159</ref> He produced two pieces of the film's score, "Driver Down" and "Videodrones; Questions", with [[Peter Christopherson]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.spin.com/2010/04/trent-reznor-and-wife-form-new-band/
|title=Trent Reznor and Wife Form New Band
|magazine=Spin
|date=April 28, 2010
|author=William Goodman
|access-date=October 9, 2017
|archive-date=May 1, 2010
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501010825/https://www.spin.com/2010/04/trent-reznor-and-wife-form-new-band/
|url-status=live
}}</ref> He tried to get [[Coil (band)|Coil]] onto the [[Lost Highway (soundtrack)|soundtrack]], but couldn't convince Lynch.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.brainwashed.com/coil/writings/jwint.html
|title=Jon Whitney Interview – part one
|date=5 May 1997
|website=www.brainwashed.com
|access-date=October 9, 2017
|archive-date=December 24, 2017
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224134537/http://www.brainwashed.com/coil/writings/jwint.html
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Nine Inch Nails also recorded a new song, "[[The Perfect Drug]]" for the soundtrack. The release spawned its release as a single, the music video for which was also directed by Mark Romanek.<ref name="Huxley 1997, p. 170">Huxley (1997), p. 170</ref>

In 2001, Reznor was asked by [[Mark Romanek]] to provide the score for ''[[One Hour Photo]]'', but the music did not work for the film and was not used. These compositions eventually evolved into ''[[And All that Could Have Been#Still|Still]]''.<ref>{{cite web
| archive-date = January 6, 2006
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060106205140/http://www.nin.com/access/5_07_04/index.php
| url = http://www.nin.com/access/5_07_04/index.php
| title = Access
| author = Trent Reznor
| publisher = nin.com
| date = May 7, 2004
| access-date = 2008-02-19
}}</ref> A remix of the Nine Inch Nails track "[[You Know What You Are?]]" by [[Clint Mansell]] was used as part of the latter's soundtrack to the 2005 film adaptation of ''[[Doom (film)#Music|Doom]]''. In 2009, Trent Reznor composed "Theme for Tetsuo" for the Japanese [[cyberpunk]] film ''[[Tetsuo: The Bullet Man]]'' from [[Shinya Tsukamoto]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.slashfilm.com/sountracks-trent-reznors-new-song-for-tetsuo-the-bullet-man-hear-inception-trailer-music-in-full/ |title=Soundtracks: Trent Reznor's New Song for Tetsuo: The Bullet Man; Hear Inception Trailer Music in Full &#124; /Film |newspaper=/Film |publisher=Slashfilm.com |date=May 25, 2010 |access-date=2012-11-19 |archive-date=May 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505020310/http://www.slashfilm.com/sountracks-trent-reznors-new-song-for-tetsuo-the-bullet-man-hear-inception-trailer-music-in-full/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Reznor Ross G5 setup cropped tight.jpg|thumb|Reznor with [[Atticus Ross]] in March 2006]]
Reznor collaborated with Ross to compose the [[The Social Network (soundtrack)|score]] for [[David Fincher]]'s ''[[The Social Network]]'', a 2010 drama film about the founding of Facebook. Says Reznor, "When I actually read the script and realized what he was up to, I said goodbye to that free time I had planned."<ref>{{cite web |author=Trent Reznor at 6:40pm |url=http://nin.com/?id=97906 |title=the official nine-inch nails website&#93; |publisher=Nin.com |date=May 28, 2010 |access-date=2011-02-05 |archive-date=July 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705100725/http://www.nin.com/?id=97906 |url-status=live }}</ref> The score was noted for portraying "Mark Zuckerberg the genius, developing a brilliant idea over ominous undertones,"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.picktainment.com/blog/2011/02/road-to-the-oscars-best-original-score/ |title=Road to the Oscars: Best Original Score; |publisher=Picktainment.com |date=February 11, 2011 |access-date=2011-02-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227072010/http://www.picktainment.com/blog/2011/02/road-to-the-oscars-best-original-score/ |archive-date=February 27, 2011 }}</ref> and received nearly unanimous praise. The film's score was released in October 2010 in multiple formats, including [[music download|digital download]], compact disc, [[5.1 surround sound|5.1 surround]] on [[Blu-ray]], and [[vinyl record]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nullco.com/TSN/ |title=''The Social Network'' soundtrack official website |publisher=Nullco.com |access-date=2017-01-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20101011072751/http%3A//www.nullco.com/TSN/ |archive-date=October 11, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> A 5-song sampler [[Extended play|EP]] was released for free via digital download.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/underwire/2010/09/trent-reznor-social-network |title=Download Trent Reznor's Social Network Sampler for Free |magazine=Wired |first=Lewis |last=Wallace |date=September 19, 2010 |access-date=March 12, 2017 |archive-date=November 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118144008/https://www.wired.com/2010/09/trent-reznor-social-network/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On January 7, 2011, Reznor announced that he would again be working with Fincher, this time to provide the [[The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (soundtrack)|score]] for the American adaptation of ''[[The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/trent-reznor-scoring-david-finchers-version-the-girl-dragon-tattoo/|title=Trent Reznor Scoring David Fincher's Version of 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo'|date=January 7, 2011|website=/Film|access-date=November 15, 2019|archive-date=July 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719231457/https://www.slashfilm.com/trent-reznor-scoring-david-finchers-version-the-girl-dragon-tattoo/|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> A cover of "[[Immigrant Song]]" by [[Led Zeppelin]], produced by Reznor and Ross, with [[Karen O]] (of the [[Yeah Yeah Yeahs]]) as the featured singer, accompanied a trailer for the film.<ref name="ImmigrantSong">{{cite web | last = Breihan | first = Tom | title = Trent Reznor and Karen O cover Led Zeppelin | publisher = [[Pitchfork Media]] | date = May 27, 2011 | url = http://pitchfork.com/news/42655-trent-reznor-and-karen-o-cover-led-zeppelin/ | access-date = 2011-07-01 | archive-date = May 31, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110531031017/http://pitchfork.com/news/42655-trent-reznor-and-karen-o-cover-led-zeppelin/ | url-status = live }}</ref> Reznor and Ross' second collaboration with Fincher was scored as the film was shot, based on the concept of "what if we give you music the minute you start to edit stuff together?" Reznor explained in 2014 that the composition process was "a lot more work" and that he "would be hesitant to go as far in that direction in the future".<ref name="Joe" />

Reznor and Ross again collaborated to score Fincher's film ''[[Gone Girl (film)|Gone Girl]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Blistein|first=Jon|title=Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to Score David Fincher's 'Gone Girl'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/trent-reznor-and-atticus-ross-to-score-david-finchers-gone-girl-20140121|work=RollingStone.com|date=January 21, 2014|access-date=March 26, 2014|archive-date=March 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318050324/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/trent-reznor-and-atticus-ross-to-score-david-finchers-gone-girl-20140121|url-status=live}}</ref> Fincher was inspired by music he heard while at an appointment with a chiropractor and tasked Reznor with creating the musical equivalent of an insincere façade. Reznor explained Fincher's request in an interview: "David [Fincher] was at the chiropractor and heard this music that was inauthentically trying to make him feel OK, and that became a perfect metaphor for this film. [...] The challenge was, simply, what is the musical equivalent of the same sort of façade of comfort and a feeling of insincerity that that music represented? [My primary aim was] to instill doubt [and] remind you that things aren't always what they seem to be."<ref>{{cite web|author1=Leah Pickett|title=Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross – Gone Girl OST|url=https://consequence.net/2014/10/album-review-trent-reznor-and-atticus-ross-gone-girl-ost/|website=Consequence of Sound|publisher=Townsquare Music|access-date=November 11, 2014|date=October 2, 2014|archive-date=October 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018183624/https://consequence.net/2014/10/album-review-trent-reznor-and-atticus-ross-gone-girl-ost/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Richard Butler (singer)|Richard Butler]] of [[The Psychedelic Furs]] sang a [[cover version]] of the song "[[She (Charles Aznavour song)|She]]," which was used in the film's [[Trailer (promotion)|teaser trailer]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gone-girl-trailer-ben-affleck-691722 |title='Gone Girl' Trailer With Ben Affleck: 5 Things to Know |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=March 27, 2014 |access-date=2014-05-01 |archive-date=October 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141012165157/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gone-girl-trailer-ben-affleck-691722 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/jarettwieselman/first-gone-girl-trailer#g5zptw|title="She" Takes Center Stage in the First "Gone Girl" Trailer|author=Jarett Wieselman|work=BuzzFeed|date=April 14, 2014 |access-date=November 4, 2014|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112013621/http://www.buzzfeed.com/jarettwieselman/first-gone-girl-trailer#g5zptw|url-status=live}}</ref> The soundtrack album was released on the Columbia label on September 30, 2014.<ref name="And">{{cite web|author1=Andy Beta|title=First Listen: Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, 'Gone Girl (Motion Picture Soundtrack)'|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/09/25/350948108/first-listen-trent-reznor-atticus-ross-gone-girl-motion-picture-soundtrack|website=NPR|access-date=November 11, 2014|date=September 25, 2014|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112030309/https://choice.npr.org/index.html?origin=https://www.npr.org/2014/09/25/350948108/first-listen-trent-reznor-atticus-ross-gone-girl-motion-picture-soundtrack|url-status=live}}</ref>

During Reznor and Ross' keynote session at the 2014 "Billboard and Hollywood Reporter Film & TV Music Conference", held on November 5, Reznor said that he is open to working with other filmmakers besides Fincher, the only director he had worked with as a composer up until that point: "I'm open to any possibility. [...] Scoring for film kind of came up unexpectedly. It was always something I'd been interested in and it was really a great experience and I've learned a lot." Reznor further explained that he cherishes his previous experiences with Fincher as "there's a pursuit and dedication to uncompromised excellence".<ref>{{cite magazine|author1=Colin Stutz|title=Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross' Billboard/THR Film & TV Conference Keynote Q&A: Watch Highlights|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/bbthr-conference/6304621/trent-reznor-atticus-ross-billboardthr-film-tv-conference|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 6, 2014|date=November 5, 2014|archive-date=December 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207083445/http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/bbthr-conference/6304621/trent-reznor-atticus-ross-billboardthr-film-tv-conference|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2014, it was announced that Reznor would collaborate with composer [[Mike Patton]], best known as the frontman of alternative metal band [[Faith No More]], on ''[[The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film)#Sequel|The Girl Who Played With Fire]]'' by Fincher, the sequel to 2011's ''The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo''.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=December 25, 2020|url=http://www.binaural.es/noticias/mike-patton-y-trent-reznor-compondran-la-bso-de-la-proxima-pelicula-de-david-fincher/|date=December 28, 2014|title=Mike Patton y Trent Reznor compondrán la BSO de la próxima película de David Fincher|first=Pablo |last=Porcar|website=Binaural.es|language=es|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101002427/http://www.binaural.es/noticias/mike-patton-y-trent-reznor-compondran-la-bso-de-la-proxima-pelicula-de-david-fincher/|archive-date=January 1, 2015 }}</ref> However, after the release of the 2015 book ''[[The Girl in the Spider's Web]]'', a part of the series from which the films are based, [[Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group|Sony]] decided to reboot the franchise and cancelled this production.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=December 25, 2020|url=https://screenrant.com/david-fincher-girl-played-fire-movie-cancelled/|date=August 13, 2019|title=Why David Fincher Never Made The Girl Who Played With Fire|website=[[Screen Rant]]|first=Adrienne|last=Tyler|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814054959/https://screenrant.com/david-fincher-girl-played-fire-movie-cancelled/|archive-date=August 14, 2019 }}</ref>

Reznor and Ross have gone on to score films by a number of other directors, starting in 2016 with [[Fisher Stevens]]' climate change documentary ''[[Before the Flood (film)|Before the Flood]]'' (whose score also included compositions by [[Gustavo Santaolalla]] and [[Mogwai]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2016/09/09/trent-reznor-mogwai-leonardo-dicaprio-climate-change-documentary/|title=Trent Reznor, Mogwai, more score Leonardo DiCaprio climate change doc|date=September 9, 2016|access-date=November 25, 2020|archive-date=November 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107154140/https://www.factmag.com/2016/09/09/trent-reznor-mogwai-leonardo-dicaprio-climate-change-documentary/|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Peter Berg]]'s ''[[Patriots Day (film)|Patriots Day]]'', a crime drama about the [[Boston Marathon bombings]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/772391-trent-reznor-and-atticus-ross-composing-the-patriots-day-score#/slide/1 |title=Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Composing the Patriots Day Score |work=ComingSoon.net |date=October 1, 2016 |access-date=August 5, 2021 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108130209/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/772391-trent-reznor-and-atticus-ross-composing-the-patriots-day-score#/slide/1 |url-status=live }}</ref> The following year, they made their television debut with the score for [[Ken Burns]] and [[Lynn Novick]]'s documentary series ''[[The Vietnam War (TV series)|The Vietnam War]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2017/08/trent-reznor-and-atticus-ross-detail-their-score-to-ken-burns-new-vietnam-war-documentary/|title=Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross detail their score to Ken Burns' new Vietnam War documentary|date=August 20, 2017|access-date=November 25, 2020|archive-date=August 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821050143/https://consequence.net/2017/08/trent-reznor-and-atticus-ross-detail-their-score-to-ken-burns-new-vietnam-war-documentary/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, Reznor and Ross scored [[Jonah Hill]]'s directorial debut ''[[Mid90s]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=says |first=Gridn0de |title=Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross Scoring Susanne Bier's 'Bird Box' &#124; Film Music Reporter |url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2018/10/25/trent-reznor-atticus-ross-scoring-susanne-biers-bird-box/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225220456/http://filmmusicreporter.com/2018/10/25/trent-reznor-atticus-ross-scoring-susanne-biers-bird-box/ |archive-date=December 25, 2018 |access-date=December 31, 2018}}</ref>, as well as [[Susanne Bier]]'s ''[[Bird Box (film)|Bird Box]]'', which was released on [[Netflix]]. Reznor and Ross also released a 2-hour box set for the ''Bird Box'' soundtrack containing additional material from their recording sessions, titled ''Bird Box/Null 09 Extended''. Reznor later admitted his dissatisfaction with working on ''Bird Box'' during an interview for the December 2019 edition of ''[[Revolver (magazine)|Revolver]]'', calling the experience a "fucking waste of time". He criticized the film's editing department for mixing the score too low in the final cut of the film, as well as the production team overall for "phoning in" the project.<ref>https://variety.com/2019/music/news/trent-reznor-bird-box-netflix-atticus-ross-score-nine-inch-nails-1203453033/</ref> Reznor also revealed that he and Ross pulled out of scoring [[Joe Wright]]'s ''[[The Woman in the Window (2021 film)|The Woman in the Window]]''[[The Woman in the Window (2021 film)|,]] having scrapped their completed score due to displeasure with the studio's "transformation" of the film following test screenings.<ref>https://pitchfork.com/news/trent-reznor-calls-scoring-bird-box-a-fucking-waste-of-time-scraps-the-woman-in-the-window-score/</ref> The film was ultimately sold to Netflix and released on their platform in 2021, with [[Danny Elfman]] replacing Reznor and Ross as composer.

In 2019, Reznor and Ross composed the score for the independent drama ''[[Waves (2019 film)|Waves]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://store.nin.com/collections/music/products/waves|title=Waves (Original Score)|date=December 6, 2019 |access-date=November 25, 2020|archive-date=November 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126120048/https://store.nin.com/collections/music/products/waves|url-status=live}}</ref> and later that year made their second contribution to television with their score for [[Damon Lindelof]]'s [[HBO]] miniseries ''[[Watchmen (TV series)|Watchmen]]'', a sequel to [[Alan Moore]]'s [[Watchmen|original 1987 comic series]]. Reznor and Ross, both fans of the comic, approached Lindelof to work on the series, and released three volumes of music from the series over the course of its broadcast.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://deadline.com/2020/06/watchmen-composers-trent-reznor-atticus-ross-hbo-interview-news-1202963614/|title = 'Watchmen' Composers Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross Talk Crafting Playful, Raunchy Sound for "Punk Rock" HBO Drama|date = June 23, 2020|access-date = November 25, 2020|archive-date = November 11, 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201111041556/https://deadline.com/2020/06/watchmen-composers-trent-reznor-atticus-ross-hbo-interview-news-1202963614/|url-status = live}}</ref> The score was critically acclaimed, and Reznor and Ross won the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series]] in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/trent-reznor|title=Trent Reznor|access-date=November 25, 2020|archive-date=January 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117123641/https://www.emmys.com/bios/trent-reznor|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2020, Reznor and Ross reunited with Fincher to score his [[Netflix]] drama film ''[[Mank]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/nine-inch-nails-9-things-we-learned-our-visit-trent-reznors-studio|title=Nine Inch Nails: 9 Things We Learned From Our Visit to Trent Reznor's Studio|website=[[Revolver (magazine)|Revolver]]|date=December 23, 2019|access-date=December 24, 2019|archive-date=December 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223212626/https://www.revolvermag.com/music/nine-inch-nails-9-things-we-learned-our-visit-trent-reznors-studio|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as scoring their first animated project, [[Pixar]]'s ''[[Soul (2020 film)|Soul]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/film/trent-reznor-atticus-ross-score-new-pixar-film-soul-2541752|title=Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to score new Pixar film 'Soul'|website=[[NME]]|date=August 25, 2019|access-date=December 29, 2020|archive-date=November 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107235209/https://www.nme.com/news/film/trent-reznor-atticus-ross-score-new-pixar-film-soul-2541752|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, the two won a Golden Globe and an Academy Award alongside [[Jon Batiste]] for their work on the ''Soul'' score.

In 2022, Reznor and Ross scored [[Luca Guadagnino]]'s ''[[Bones and All (soundtrack)|Bones and All]]'', as well as [[Sam Mendes]]' ''[[Empire of Light (film)|Empire of Light]]''. In 2023, the duo scored their second animated project, ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (soundtrack)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem]]'', and reunited with Fincher for ''[[The Killer (2023 film)|The Killer]]''. In 2024, Reznor and Ross scored two films by Guadagnino: ''[[Challengers (soundtrack)|Challengers]]'' and [[Queer (film)|''Queer'']]. The two also scored the HBO comedy series [[The Franchise (2024 TV series)|''The Franchise'']] alongside [[Jeff Cardoni]]; Mendes served as executive producer on the project, and directed the pilot.<ref>https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/09/18/hbos-the-franchise-to-feature-theme-by-trent-reznor-atticus-ross-and-score-by-jeff-cardoni/</ref> 

As Nine Inch Nails, Reznor and Ross are composing the score to the sci-fi sequel ''[[Tron: Ares]]'', due to be released in 2025.<ref name=":0" /> The two are also scoring [[Scott Derrickson]]'s ''[[The Gorge (film)|The Gorge]]'', which is set to release on [[Apple TV+]] the same year.<ref>https://filmmusicreporter.com/2024/04/04/trent-reznor-atticus-ross-scoring-scott-derricksons-the-gorge/</ref>

==Business activity==
===Dispute with John Malm===
In 2004, Reznor's former manager [[John Malm Jr.]] filed a suit against Reznor for over $2 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=2000000|start_year=2004}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) in deferred commissions. The suit alleged that Reznor "reneged on every single contract he and Malm ever entered into" and that Reznor refused to pay Malm money to which he was contractually entitled.<ref name="stabbed">{{cite web
  | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1487166/20040521/nine_inch_nails.jhtml
  | publisher = MTV. [[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]]
  | access-date = 2010-01-07
  | first = Jon
  | last = Wiederhorn
  | title = Ex-Manager Says Trent Reznor Stabbed Him in the Back 'With A Nine Inch Nail'
  | date = May 21, 2004
  | archive-date = May 10, 2009
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090510012108/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1487166/20040521/nine_inch_nails.jhtml
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref>
Weeks later, Reznor filed a counter-suit in the U.S. District Court of New York, charging Malm with fraud and breach of [[fiduciary]] duties.<ref name="Ex-manager MTV">{{cite web
  | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1487134/20040520/nine_inch_nails.jhtml
  | title = Trent Reznor Sues Ex-Manager For Millions
  | publisher = MTV. [[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]]
  | access-date = 2010-01-07
  | first = Jon
  | last = Wiederhorn
  | date = May 20, 2004
  | archive-date = May 10, 2009
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090510024724/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1487134/20040520/nine_inch_nails.jhtml
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref> Reznor's suit arose from a five-year management contract signed in the early days of Nine Inch Nails, between Reznor and Malm's management company J. Artist Management. This contract, according to the suit, was unlawful and immoral in that it secured Malm 20% of Reznor's ''gross'' earnings, rather than his ''net'' earnings, as is the standard practice between artists and their management. The suit also alleged that the contract secured this percentage even if Malm was no longer representing Reznor, and for all Reznor's album [[advance payment|advances]].<ref name="Bares Teeth">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1502433/20050517/reznor_trent.jhtml 
 |publisher=MTV. [[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]] 
 |access-date=2010-01-07 
 |first=Chris 
 |last=Harris 
 |title=Trent Reznor Bares Teeth in Testimony Against Ex-Manager 
 |date=May 17, 2005 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201012253/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1502433/20050517/reznor_trent.jhtml 
 |archive-date=February 1, 2010 
}}</ref> The suit also described how Malm had misappropriated the ownership rights regarding Nine Inch Nails, including the trademark name "NIИ".<ref name="Ohio court appeal">{{cite web |url=http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/rod/docs/pdf/8/2009/2009-ohio-2577.pdf |title=Court of Appeals of Ohio document |access-date=2010-07-09 |archive-date=August 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804030855/https://www.sconet.state.oh.us/rod/docs/pdf/8/2009/2009-ohio-2577.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> According to testimony by Malm, Reznor gave him half of the "NIИ" trademark "as a gift".<ref name="Ohio court appeal" />

Reznor stated that he began to fully understand his financial situation after tackling his drug addiction.<ref name="Bares Teeth" /> Reznor requested a financial statement from Malm in 2003, only to discover that he had only $400,000 (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=400000|start_year=2003}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) in [[liquid assets]]. He told the court, "It was not pleasant discovering you have a tenth as much as you've been told you have."<ref name="Reznor wins MTV">{{cite web
  | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1503212/20050531/nine_inch_nails.jhtml
  | publisher = MTV. [[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]]
  | access-date = 2010-01-07
  | first = Chris
  | last = Harris
  | title = Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor Wins Case Against His Former Partner
  | date = May 31, 2005
  | archive-date = May 10, 2009
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090510025819/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1503212/20050531/nine_inch_nails.jhtml
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref> Malm's lawyers, however, claimed that Malm had worked for years "pro bono", and that Reznor's inability to release an album or tour and his uninhibited spending were the reasons for Reznor's financial situation.<ref name="Ex-managed Billboard">{{cite magazine
  | url = http://www.billboard.com/search/?keyword=nine+inch+nails+malm&x=0&y=0#/news/nin-s-reznor-sues-ex-manager-1000516579.story
  | magazine = [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]. [[Nielsen Company]]
  | title = NIN's Reznor Sues Ex-Manager
  | date = May 21, 2004
  | access-date = 2010-01-07}}</ref> After a three-week trial in 2005, jurors sided with Reznor, awarding him upwards of $2.95&nbsp;million and returning to him complete control of his trademarks.<ref name="Reznor wins MTV" /> After adjustment for inflation, Reznor's award rose to nearly $5&nbsp;million.<ref name="Ohio court appeal"/>

=== Beats Music ===
In January 2013, Reznor and TopSpin Media founder Ian Rogers were chosen to head [[Beats Electronics]]' new music subscription service, Project Daisy, described by Beats co-founder [[Jimmy Iovine]] as having "hardware, brand, distribution partnerships, and artist relations to differentiate Daisy from the competition".<ref>Carr, Austin. [http://www.fastcompany.com/3004702/beats-electronics-announces-subscription-music-service-project-daisy-trent-reznor "Beats Electronics Announces Subscription Music Service "Project Daisy" With Trent Reznor."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121145831/http://www.fastcompany.com/3004702/beats-electronics-announces-subscription-music-service-project-daisy-trent-reznor |date=January 21, 2013 }} Fast Company. N.p., January 10, 2013. Web. January 20, 2013.</ref> There was some speculation as to what Reznor's role would be within the company, but he was later named [[chief creative officer]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beatsmusic.com/about/company/trent-reznor |title=About |publisher=Beats Music |access-date=2014-08-12 |archive-date=May 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509001211/http://www.beatsmusic.com/about/company/trent-reznor |url-status=live }}</ref> He promised that he and the other members would strive to create a music subscription service that will be like "having your own guy when you go to the record store, who knows what you like but can also point you down some paths you wouldn't have necessarily encountered".<ref>[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/trent-reznor-named-creative-chief-of-beats-daisy-music-service-20130110 "Trent Reznor Named Creative Chief of Beats' Daisy Music Service."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720191111/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/trent-reznor-named-creative-chief-of-beats-daisy-music-service-20130110 |date=July 20, 2017 }} Rollingstone.com. January 10, 2013. Web. January 20, 2013.</ref> The service was officially launched in the United States on January 21, 2014.<ref name=verge-beatsmusicannounce>{{cite web|title=Beats Music arrives January 21st, family plan exclusive to AT&T customers|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/1/11/5298562/beats-music-arrives-january-21st-family-plan-exclusive-to-at-t|work=The Verge|date=January 11, 2014|access-date=January 12, 2014|archive-date=January 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114035053/http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/11/5298562/beats-music-arrives-january-21st-family-plan-exclusive-to-at-t|url-status=live}}</ref>

Reznor continued on in a similar role under Beats' new ownership at [[Apple Inc.|Apple]], where he was involved in the launch of [[Apple Music]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Welch|first1=Chris|title=Trent Reznor on his new role at Apple: 'it's everything I asked for'|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/10/31/7139201/trent-reznor-talks-new-role-at-apple|website=The Verge|access-date=10 June 2015|date=2014-10-31|archive-date=November 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114001817/https://www.theverge.com/2014/10/31/7139201/trent-reznor-talks-new-role-at-apple|url-status=live}}</ref> He later left Apple, noting working there "felt at odds with the artist in me."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tully Claymore |first1=Gabriela |title=Trent Reznor Is Doing What Feels Right |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2019319/trent-reznor-interview-nine-inch-nails/interviews/ |website=Stereogum |date=October 19, 2018 |access-date=25 April 2024}}</ref>

==Criticism of the music industry==
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In May 2007, Reznor made a post on the official Nine Inch Nails website condemning [[Universal Music Group]]—the parent company of the band's record label, [[Interscope Records]]—for their pricing and distribution plans for Nine Inch Nails' 2007 album ''Year Zero''.<ref name="RollingStoneKreps">{{cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |title=Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor Slams Records Labels for Sorry State of the Industry |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=May 14, 2007 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/05/14/nine-inch-nails-trent-reznor-slams-records-labels-for-sorry-state-of-the-industry/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071204052459/https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/05/14/nine-inch-nails-trent-reznor-slams-records-labels-for-sorry-state-of-the-industry/ |archive-date=2007-12-04 |url-status=dead |access-date=2007-05-19}}</ref> He labeled the company's retail pricing of ''Year Zero'' in Australia as "ABSURD," concluding that "as a reward for being a 'true fan' you get ripped off". Reznor went on to say that as "the climate grows more and more desperate for record labels, their answer to their mostly self-inflicted wounds seems to be to screw the consumer over even more."<ref name="UMG">{{cite web | url = http://www.nin.com/tr | access-date = 2007-08-22 | last = Reznor | first = Trent | title = Updates from Trent | date = May 13, 2007 |website=Nine Inch Nails | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070517041353/http://nin.com/tr/| archive-date=May 17, 2007}}</ref> Reznor's post, specifically his criticism of the recording industry at large, elicited considerable media attention.<ref name="Reznor Smashes UMG">{{cite web | title = Reznor Smashes UMG, Websites Write About It | website = The NIN Hotline | date = May 17, 2007 | url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=5#1179461909 | access-date = 2007-05-19 | archive-date = November 28, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071128011751/http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=5#1179461909 | url-status = live }}</ref> In September 2007, Reznor continued his attack on Universal Music Group at a concert in Australia, urging fans there to "steal" his music online instead of purchasing it legally.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/steal-away-steal-steal-and-steal-some-more/2007/09/18/1189881482912.html | title = Nails frontman urges fans to steal music | newspaper = [[Sydney Morning Herald]] | date = September 18, 2007 | access-date = 2007-09-18 | last = Moses | first = Asher | archive-date = October 11, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071011201345/http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/steal-away-steal-steal-and-steal-some-more/2007/09/18/1189881482912.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Reznor went on to encourage the crowd to "steal and steal and steal some more and give it to all your friends and keep on stealin'."<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=9#1189989696 | title = Trent follows up on Universal AU | website = The NIN Hotline | date = September 16, 2007 | access-date = 2007-09-18 | archive-date = March 4, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304204518/http://www.theninhotline.net/news/archives/backissue.php?y=07&m=9#1189989696 | url-status = live }}</ref>

While on tour in [[Prague]] in 2009, Reznor considered the marketing aspect of a major label when he saw a lot of promotion for [[Radiohead]]'s then-upcoming tour, contrasting with little promotion for his current Nine Inch Nails tour or any of its recently released albums. At a 2012 panel discussion with [[David Byrne]] and [[Josh Kun]], Reznor stated that the marketing from a major label outweighed the aspects of being independent that he liked, namely the ability to release albums whenever he wanted to avoid leaking and to take a larger cut of the profits from record sales.<ref name="spin-returntomajor">{{cite magazine| last = Hogan| first = Marc| title = How Radiohead Inspired Trent Reznor's Return to Major Labels| magazine = [[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]| date = October 15, 2012| url = https://www.spin.com/2012/10/trent-reznor-david-byrne-major-labels-destroy-angels-radiohead/| access-date = December 10, 2012| archive-date = November 26, 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151126114614/http://www.spin.com/2012/10/trent-reznor-david-byrne-major-labels-destroy-angels-radiohead/| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/48208-watch-trent-reznor-discusses-return-to-major-labels-in-conversation-with-david-byrne/|title=Watch: Trent Reznor Discusses Return to Major Labels in Conversation With David Byrne|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=October 15, 2012|access-date=March 28, 2020|first=Jenn|last=Pelly|archive-date=March 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328121615/https://pitchfork.com/news/48208-watch-trent-reznor-discusses-return-to-major-labels-in-conversation-with-david-byrne/|url-status=live}}</ref> Reznor's first album released through a major label after his return was How to Destroy Angels' ''[[An Omen EP]]'' released in November 2012 through [[Columbia Records]]. On working with Columbia for the release of the EP, Reznor said that "so far it's been pleasantly pleasant".<ref name="spin-returntomajor"/>

In 2013, Reznor returned to Columbia Records for ''[[Hesitation Marks]]'', the eighth Nine Inch Nails studio album. On the Columbia release of ''Hesitation Marks'', Reznor has stated: "I'm trying to make the best thing I can make... and I also want as many people as possible to be aware that it's out there."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2013/08/trent-reznor-nine-inch-nails-hesitation-marks-columbia-spin-september-2013-cover-story/|title=Trent Reznor on Nine Inch Nails' Columbia Signing: 'I'm Not a Major Label Apologist'|date=August 19, 2013|work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|access-date=March 28, 2020|archive-date=February 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204033211/https://www.spin.com/2013/08/trent-reznor-nine-inch-nails-hesitation-marks-columbia-spin-september-2013-cover-story/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Influences and musical style ==
Reznor possesses a [[baritone]] vocal range.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/popmusic/index.ssf/2013/09/nine_inch_nails_and_trent_rezn.html|title=Nine Inch Nails and Trent Reznor score HUGE with "Hesitation Marks" (CD Review)|access-date=February 2, 2014|date=September 4, 2013|first= Chuck |last=Yarborough|newspaper=[[The Plain Dealer]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305122858/https://www.cleveland.com/popmusic/2013/09/nine_inch_nails_and_trent_rezn.html|archive-date=March 5, 2020}}</ref> Reznor was initially inspired to create music after seeing the [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]] perform in 1976. He would later recall, "The excitement of the night struck a chord with me and I remember thinking, 'Someday I'd love to be up on that stage.'"<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Kerrang!]]|date=1 July 2000|url=https://www.theninhotline.com/archives/textarch/article/kerrang070100.html|title=Trent Reznor Comes Clean}}</ref> Another early influence was English musician [[Gary Numan]], with Reznor once saying that he knew he wanted to make music with synthesizers after hearing Numan's song "[[Cars (song)|Cars]]".<ref name=mervis_gazette>{{cite news|last1=Mervis|first1=Scott|title=Synth-rock pioneer Gary Numan adds a shot of industrial power|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music/2014/03/20/Synth-rock-pioneer-Gary-Numan-adds-a-shot-of-industrial-power/stories/201403200114|access-date=January 2, 2015|work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118010700/http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music/2014/03/20/Synth-rock-pioneer-Gary-Numan-adds-a-shot-of-industrial-power/stories/201403200114|archive-date=January 18, 2015}}</ref> This was exemplified years later on the Nine Inch Nails song "[[Only (Nine Inch Nails song)|Only]]" of 2005, whose disco-style beats and synthesizers draw from Numan's style.<ref name="wapo_klein">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2005/05/04/nine-inch-nails-body-of-work-gains-teeth/c00be307-5cf3-4799-af18-005d944f34f4/ |title= Nine Inch Nails' Body Of Work Gains 'Teeth' |first=Joshua |last=Klein |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date= May 4, 2005|access-date=March 28, 2020|archive-date=March 28, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328112833/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2005/05/04/nine-inch-nails-body-of-work-gains-teeth/c00be307-5cf3-4799-af18-005d944f34f4/}}</ref> Reznor mentioned that college radio introduced him to acts such as the English gothic rock band [[Bauhaus (band)|Bauhaus]] (naming their lead singer, [[Peter Murphy (musician)|Peter Murphy]], as one of his idols),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.portraitofdecay.com/nin.com/tr/index2006.html |title=TR Updates from Trent – Entry 03-23-2006 |website=Nin.com |date=23 March 2006 |access-date=9 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211220831/http://www.portraitofdecay.com/nin.com/tr/index2006.html |archive-date=11 December 2013 |url-status=live|quote=Bauhaus has been a major influence of mine over the years. Their sound, look and style made me want to start a band. One of the first tours we were on was with Peter Murphy – a hero of mine. To share the stage with these guys now is truly an honor. }}</ref> as well as the English bands [[Joy Division]] and [[Throbbing Gristle]], which were very inspirational for him.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Wilbert L. Cooper |title=Trent Reznor Talks About Making It Out of the Midwest |url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ppmnbm/nine-inch-nails-trent-reznor-on-making-it-out-of-the-midwest-456 |website=Vice |publisher=Vice Media LLC. |access-date=30 March 2020 |date=15 January 2015 |quote=The other important thing that happened when I went to college was I finally had access to college radio. I never realized how much shit was out there. I discovered Bauhaus after they'd broken up and Joy Division and Throbbing Gristle and tons of shit that I just didn't know existed. You know that feeling where you find a new band you haven't heard of, then you discover them and you realize they have like three albums out? To me that's a great feeling because you can't wait to digest and absorb them. Well, that was happening with, like, 30 bands to me in college. It felt very inspiring to be a music fan. |archive-date=December 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204124418/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ppmnbm/nine-inch-nails-trent-reznor-on-making-it-out-of-the-midwest-456 |url-status=live }}</ref> Reznor also said he saw the first Nine Inch Nails song he wrote, "[[Down in It]]", as a "total rip-off" of the 1986 song "[[Dig It (Skinny Puppy song)|Dig It]]" by Canadian band [[Skinny Puppy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://trentreznor.us/nowiamnothing/xint55.html|title=The Holland Interviews|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426085557/http://trentreznor.us/nowiamnothing/xint55.html|archive-date=April 26, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Reznor's work was described by ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' magazine in 1995 as "self-loathing, sexual obsession, torture and suicide over a thick sludge of gnashing guitars and computer-synthesized beats".<ref name="int12" /> The magazine also said that "[Reznor], like [[Alice Cooper]] and [[Ozzy Osbourne]] before him, has built his name on theatrics and [[nihilism]]".<ref name="int12" /> Nine Inch Nails concerts were often [[Picketing|picketed]] by [[Christian fundamentalism|fundamentalist Christians]].<ref name="int12" /> Despite the gloomy public image that surrounded Reznor from then on, his former high school band director considered him to be "very upbeat and friendly" in reality and theorized that "all that 'dark avenging angel' stuff is marketing".<ref name="int12" /> Conversely, the owner of the recording studio where Reznor recorded the album ''Pretty Hate Machine'' said of Reznor's "pain-driven" stage act, "It's planned, but it is not contrived. He's pulling that stuff out from inside somewhere. You cannot fake that delivery."<ref name="int12" /> Pain and sorrow came to be regarded as such defining elements of Reznor's music that a group of fans once responded to the news that his dog had died with comments like "it's good for his music when he is depressed" and that "it's good to see [Reznor] back in Hell, where he belongs".<ref name="int12" />

Reznor expressed the significant influence that English experimental band [[Coil (band)|Coil]] had on his work, saying that their 1986 album ''[[Horse Rotorvator]]'' was "deeply influential".<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://thequietus.com/articles/14600-trent-reznor-interview-coil-nine-inch-nails | title=Trent Reznor on Coil & Nine Inch Nails, Plus Recoiled Review | author=Harry Sword | magazine=The Quietus | access-date=February 27, 2014}}</ref> In many interviews, he has also mentioned important influences on him from American, English, Irish, and Scottish acts such as [[Devo]], [[The Cars]], [[The Jesus and Mary Chain]], [[My Bloody Valentine (band)|My Bloody Valentine]], [[Pere Ubu]], [[Soft Cell]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theninhotline.net/archives/articles/manager/display_article.php?id=88| title=Radio One Rock Show hosted by Trent Reznor|date=April 5, 2005 |website=Theninhotline.net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060523005443/http://www.theninhotline.net/archives/articles/manager/display_article.php?id=88|archive-date=May 23, 2006 }}</ref> [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], [[Ministry (band)|Ministry]],<ref>{{cite AV media | people= Freel, Douglas (Director) | date=April 11, 2011 | title= Fix: The Ministry Movie (Documentary) | medium=Motion picture | location=United States | publisher=Lifeforce Indy-Films Entertainment }}</ref> [[Test Dept]], [[Cabaret Voltaire (band)|Cabaret Voltaire]]<ref>{{cite magazine |date= March 23, 1994 |title= Nail Gun |url=https://www.theninhotline.com/archives/articles/manager/display_article.php?id=550 |magazine= Beat Magazine |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200328111710/https://www.theninhotline.com/archives/articles/manager/display_article.php?id=550 |access-date=March 28, 2020|archive-date=March 28, 2020 }}</ref> and [[The Cure]]'s 1985 album, ''[[The Head on the Door]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f_2Hb3bIqaQC&q=%22trent+reznor%22+%22my+bloody+valentine%22&pg=PA68 | title=Nine Inch Nails' "The Fragile" | author=Norris, Chris | magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] | date=January 2000 | volume=16 | issue=1 | pages=68–72 | access-date=October 15, 2020 | archive-date=November 30, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130194754/https://books.google.com/books?id=f_2Hb3bIqaQC&q=%22trent+reznor%22+%22my+bloody+valentine%22&pg=PA68 | url-status=live }}</ref> According to American musician [[Todd Rundgren]], Reznor told him that he listened to Rundgren's 1973 album ''[[A Wizard, a True Star]]'' with "great regularity".<ref>{{cite web |author=thodoris |url=http://www.hit-channel.com/interview-todd-rundgren/84364 |title=Interview: Todd Rundgren – Hit Channel |publisher=Hit-channel.com |date=2014-06-20 |access-date=2017-01-05 |archive-date=July 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701213340/http://www.hit-channel.com/interview-todd-rundgren/84364 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Reznor also cited English band [[Depeche Mode]], in particular their 1986 album ''[[Black Celebration]]'', as a major influence on his beginnings. In 2017, he recalled:

{{Cquote|It was the summer of '86. I'd dropped out of college and was living in Cleveland trying to find my way in the local music scene. I knew where I wanted to go with my life but I didn't know how to get there. A group of friends and I drove down to [[Blossom Music Center]] amphitheatre to see the ''Black Celebration'' tour. DM was one of our favorite bands and the ''Black Celebration'' record took my love for them to a new level. I've thought about that night a lot over the years. It was a perfect summer night and I was in exactly the right place I was supposed to be. The music, the energy, the audience, the connection... it was spiritual and truly magic. I left that show grateful, humbled, energized, focused, and in awe of how powerful and transformative music can be... and I started writing what would eventually become ''Pretty Hate Machine''. Many times, particularly when we're playing an amphitheatre, I'll think of that show while I'm onstage and hope someone in the audience is in the midst of a perfect summer night feeling how DM made me feel so many years ago.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.nme.com/news/music/tony-hawk-shares-tribute-depeche-mode-trent-reznor-2069824 |title= Tony Hawk shares tribute to Depeche Mode from Trent Reznor |publisher= NME |date= 11 May 2017 |access-date= 11 May 2017 |archive-date= June 10, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200610181318/https://www.nme.com/news/music/tony-hawk-shares-tribute-depeche-mode-trent-reznor-2069824 |url-status= live }}</ref>}}

A longtime fan of English musician [[David Bowie]], Reznor has ranked Bowie's 1977 album ''[[Low (David Bowie album)|Low]]'' as one of his favorite albums and said that he listened to it constantly during the recording of ''The Downward Spiral'' for inspiration.<ref name = "Details" /> In 1995, Nine Inch Nails toured as a co-headlining act on the North American leg of Bowie's 1995 [[Outside Tour]]. Reznor also appeared in Bowie's video for "[[I'm Afraid of Americans]]" as Bowie's stalker, and made several remixes for the single release of the song (as well as a remix of "[[The Hearts Filthy Lesson]]"). The two came to consider each other friends.<ref name="Afraid of Americans">{{cite web | title = David Bowie – I'm Afraid of Americans | website = Allmusic | url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r338511|pure_url=yes}} | access-date = 2007-11-10}}</ref>  In ''[[Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage]]'' Reznor said that Canadian band [[Rush (band)|Rush]] had played a major part in his childhood, that he considered Rush to be "one of the best bands ever" and that he had gained a perspective on how keyboards could be introduced into hard rock after listening to their 1982 album ''[[Signals (Rush album)|Signals]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://nerdholes.blogspot.com/2010/05/rush-beyond-lighted-stage-review.html |title=Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage review |last=Chittenden |first=B. |date=May 1, 2010 |website=Two Assholes Talking About Nerd Stuff |access-date=July 21, 2017 |archive-date=January 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109181914/http://nerdholes.blogspot.com/2010/05/rush-beyond-lighted-stage-review.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Legacy ==
Reznor's work as Nine Inch Nails has influenced many newer artists, which according to Reznor range from "generic imitations" dating from the band's initial success to younger bands echoing his style in a "truer, less imitative way".<ref>{{cite magazine
  | title = Geoff Rickly interviews Trent Reznor
  | last = Rickly
  | first = Geoff
  | author-link = Geoff Rickly
  | magazine = [[Alternative Press (music magazine)|Alternative Press]]
  | date = June 26, 2004}}</ref> Following the release of ''The Downward Spiral'', mainstream artists began to take notice of Nine Inch Nails' influence: David Bowie compared NIN's impact to that of [[The Velvet Underground]].<ref name="Bowie">{{cite magazine
  | title = Nine Inch Nails
  | last = Bowie
  | first = David
  | author-link = David Bowie
  | magazine = [[Rolling Stone]]
  | issue = 972
  | date = April 21, 2005
  | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/7250012/94_nine_inch_nails
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060521065351/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/7250012/94_nine_inch_nails/
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = May 21, 2006
  | access-date = 2007-03-13}}</ref> In 1997, Reznor appeared in ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine's list of the year's most influential people, and ''Spin'' magazine described him as "the most vital artist in music".<ref name="Time" /> [[Bob Ezrin]], producer for [[Pink Floyd]], [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]], [[Alice Cooper]], and [[Peter Gabriel]], described Reznor in 2007 as a "true visionary" and advised aspiring artists to take note of his no-compromise attitude.<ref>{{cite web
  | url = http://torontoist.com/2007/04/thank_god_for_t.php
  | title = Thank God for Trent Reznor
  | publisher = The Torontoist
  | date = April 19, 2007
  | access-date = 2007-04-20
  | first = Marc
  | last = Lostracco
  | archive-date = October 22, 2013
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131022161546/http://torontoist.com/2007/04/thank_god_for_t/
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref> During an appearance at the ''[[Kerrang! Awards]]'' in London that year, Reznor accepted the ''Kerrang!'' Icon, honoring Nine Inch Nails' long-standing influence on rock music.<ref>{{cite web
  | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/news/20070823_kerrang.shtml
  | title = Kerrang Awards revealed
  | publisher = [[BBC Radio 6 Music]]
  | date = August 23, 2007
  | access-date = 2007-09-12
  | archive-date = September 14, 2013
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130914165906/http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/news/20070823_kerrang.shtml
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref>

[[Guns N' Roses]] frontman [[Axl Rose]], an early supporter of Nine Inch Nails,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://htgth.net/news/shownews.php?newsid=208 |title=Trent Reznor on Axl |access-date=May 17, 2020 |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224082028/http://htgth.net/news/shownews.php?newsid=208 |url-status=live }}</ref> was heavily influenced by Reznor in the writing and composition of the band's ''[[Chinese Democracy]]'' album.<ref name="Wall2008">{{cite book|author=Mick Wall|title=W.A.R.: The Unauthorized Biography of William Axl Rose|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IyM2nd4ZswwC&pg=PA355|date=5 February 2008|publisher=St. Martin's Publishing Group|isbn=978-1-4299-2884-7|page=263|access-date=May 17, 2020|archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729120408/https://books.google.com/books?id=IyM2nd4ZswwC&pg=PA355|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Steven Wilson]] of [[progressive rock]] band [[Porcupine Tree]] has stated that he is influenced by and much admires Reznor's production work, in particular ''[[The Fragile (Nine Inch Nails album)|The Fragile]]'',<ref>{{cite magazine | access-date = August 16, 2016 | magazine = [[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]] | date = September 2007 | first = Jerry | last = Ewing | issue = 110 | location = United Kingdom | title = The Fragile | url = http://teamrock.com/feature/2016-12-02/steven-wilson-in-praise-of-nine-inch-nails-the-fragile | archive-date = December 3, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161203153834/http://teamrock.com/feature/2016-12-02/steven-wilson-in-praise-of-nine-inch-nails-the-fragile | url-status = live }}</ref> and in 2008 said that "[Reznor] is the only one [he'd] let near [his] music".<ref>{{cite magazine|access-date=May 19, 2020|url=https://www.guitare-live.com/magazine/37/porcupine-tree-vs-oceansize/562/1/|date=March 2008|title=Porcupine Tree VS Oceansize|number=37|language=fr|author=Nicolas Didier Barriac|location=Paris, France|magazine=Guitare Live|archive-date=April 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425104456/https://www.guitare-live.com/magazine/37/porcupine-tree-vs-oceansize/562/1/|url-status=live}}</ref> 
Indonesian singer [[Anggun]] said that Reznor was "the man of my musical life", and that ''The Fragile'' was "the album that changed my life."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://rollingstone.co.id/read/2012/01/02/095441/1804424/1095/q-n-a-anggun |title=Q n A: Anggun |first=Soleh |last=Solihun |language=id |work=Rolling Stone Indonesia |date=2 January 2012 |access-date=19 June 2014 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006115252/http://rollingstone.co.id/read/2012/01/02/095441/1804424/1095/q-n-a-anggun |archive-date=6 October 2014  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rfimusic.com/news-music/pop/album/20120102-anggun-wins-french-vote-eurovision|title=Anggun wins the French vote|first=Jérôme|last=Pichon|publisher=Radio France Internationale|date=2 January 2012|access-date=19 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006212858/http://www.rfimusic.com/news-music/pop/album/20120102-anggun-wins-french-vote-eurovision|archive-date=6 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Writing for ''[[Revolver (magazine)|Revolver]]'' magazine on the 25th anniversary of ''[[Broken (Nine Inch Nails EP)|Broken]]'', musician [[Greg Puciato]] stated that one of the few vivid musical memories of his teenage years was listening to the EP at age 12, front-to-back, in the first [[digipak]] he had seen. Later, after discovering the story behind its release, it became a giant influence on him, particularly "when it comes to [his] own artistic path or output".<ref>{{cite web|access-date=May 19, 2020|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/why-nine-inch-nails-broken-stands-ultimate-symbol-artistic-defiance|title=Why Nine Inch Nails' 'Broken' Stands as Ultimate Symbol of Artistic Defiance|website=[[Revolver (magazine)|Revolver]]|date=September 21, 2017 |first=Greg|last=Puciato|url-status=live|archive-date=September 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920202356/https://www.revolvermag.com/music/why-nine-inch-nails-broken-stands-ultimate-symbol-artistic-defiance}}</ref> [[Timbaland]] has cited Reznor as his favorite studio producer.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://music.guardian.co.uk/urban/story/0,,2123761,00.html |title=Soundtrack of my life: Timbaland &#124; Music &#124; Observer Music Monthly |publisher=Observer Music Monthly |author=Will Hodgkinson |date=July 15, 2007 |access-date=2008-10-27 |location=London |archive-date=June 10, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610023158/http://music.guardian.co.uk/urban/story/0,,2123761,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Drummer [[Chris Pennie]] of [[the Dillinger Escape Plan]] said ''The Fragile'' changed his compositional mindset from drums to production, as he was "blown away" by its dense yet elegant mix and vocal ideas. He called it one of his two favorite albums of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mikedolbear.co.uk/story.asp?StoryID=2051|title=Chris Pennie (Coheed & Cambria) – unleashed and moving forward|last=Marcus|first=Jerome|date=October 2009|website=Mikedolbear.co.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207131342/http://www.mikedolbear.co.uk/story.asp?StoryID=2051|archive-date=December 7, 2009|url-status=live|access-date=December 25, 2020|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

==Personal life==
During the five years following the release of ''[[The Downward Spiral]]'' in 1994, Reznor suffered from [[Major depressive disorder|depression]]; his condition was worsened by the death of his maternal grandmother, who had raised him. He began abusing alcohol, cocaine, and other drugs, and successfully completed rehab in 2001. He said in a 2005 ''[[Kerrang!]]'' interview, <blockquote>"There was a persona that had run its course. I needed to get my priorities straight, my head screwed on. Instead of always working, I took a couple of years off, just to figure out who I was and working out if I wanted to keep doing this or not. I had become a terrible addict; I needed to get my shit together, figure out what had happened."<ref name = "Hell" /></blockquote> In contrast to his former suicidal tendencies, he stated in another 2005 interview that he is "pretty happy".<ref>{{cite magazine | last = Stillman | first = Brian | title = Tooth & Nail | magazine = [[Revolver (magazine)|Revolver]] | date = June 1, 2005 | url = http://theninhotline.net/archives/articles/manager/display_article.php?id=51 | access-date = 2007-11-11 | archive-date = November 4, 2005 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051104112927/http://www.theninhotline.net/archives/articles/manager/display_article.php?id=51 | url-status = live}}</ref>

Reznor married Filipino-American singer [[Mariqueen Maandig]] in October 2009.<ref>{{cite web|last=Goodman|first=William|title=Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor Marries|url=https://www.spin.com/2009/10/nine-inch-nails-trent-reznor-marries/|work=Spin|date=October 19, 2009|access-date=May 18, 2018|archive-date= October 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031141835/http://www.spin.com/2009/10/nine-inch-nails-trent-reznor-marries/|url-status= live}}</ref>  They live in [[Los Angeles]] and have five children together.<ref>Marchese, David (July 2017) [https://www.vulture.com/2017/07/trent-reznor-nine-inch-nails.html "Trent Reznor, In Conversation"], ''Vulture''. Accessed May 24, 2023.</ref> When asked about the future of Nine Inch Nails in 2023, he said, "I don't want to be away from my kids. I don't want to miss their lives to go do a thing that I'm grateful to be able to do, and I'm appreciative that you're here to see it, but I've done it a lot, you know? I don't really want to do that right now. [...] I kind of want to feel okay and I want to make sure my family’s okay."<ref name="consequence.net">{{cite web | url=https://consequence.net/2023/06/trent-reznor-nine-inch-nails-future/ | title=Trent Reznor Gives Update on Future of Nine Inch Nails | date=June 16, 2023 }}</ref> He added that he prefers working on film scores over recording and touring as Nine Inch Nails in part because there is a "less fertile environment" to put Nine Inch Nails music out into, while scoring for films has "thrust [him] into places [he] wouldn't be" with the band.<ref name="consequence.net" />

==Discography==
{{Main|Trent Reznor discography}}
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
'''Nine Inch Nails'''
{{Main|Nine Inch Nails discography}}
* ''[[Pretty Hate Machine]]'' (1989)
* ''[[Broken (Nine Inch Nails EP)|Broken]]'' (EP, 1992)
* ''[[The Downward Spiral]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Quake (soundtrack)|Quake]]'' (1996)
* ''[[The Fragile (Nine Inch Nails album)|The Fragile]]'' (1999)
* ''[[With Teeth]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Year Zero (album)|Year Zero]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Ghosts I–IV]]'' (2008)
* ''[[The Slip (album)|The Slip]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Hesitation Marks]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Not the Actual Events]]'' (EP, 2016)
* ''[[Add Violence]]'' (EP, 2017)
* ''[[Bad Witch]]'' (2018)
* ''[[Ghosts V: Together]]'' (2020)
* ''[[Ghosts VI: Locusts]]'' (2020)

'''How to Destroy Angels'''
{{Main|How to Destroy Angels (band)#Discography|l1 = How to Destroy Angels discography}}
* ''[[Welcome Oblivion]]'' (2013)
{{col-break}}
'''with Atticus Ross'''
* ''[[The Social Network (soundtrack)|The Social Network]]'' (2010)
* ''[[The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (soundtrack)|The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Gone Girl (soundtrack)|Gone Girl]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Before the Flood (soundtrack)|Before the Flood]]'' (2016){{ref|a|[a]}}
* ''[[Patriots Day (soundtrack)|Patriots Day]]'' (2017)
* ''[[The Vietnam War (score)|The Vietnam War]]'' (2017)
* ''[[Mid90s (soundtrack)|Mid90s]]'' (EP, 2018)
* ''[[Bird Box (soundtrack)|Bird Box]]'' (2018)
* ''[[Watchmen (soundtrack)|Watchmen]]'' (2019)
* ''[[Waves (2019 film)|Waves]]'' (2019)
* ''[[Mank (soundtrack)|Mank]]'' (2020)
* ''[[Soul (soundtrack)|Soul]]'' (2020){{ref|b|[b]}}
* ''[[Bones and All (soundtrack)|Bones and All]]'' (2022)
* ''[[Empire of Light (film)|Empire of Light]]'' (2022)
* ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (soundtrack)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem]]'' (2023)
* ''[[The Killer (soundtrack)|The Killer]]'' (2023)
* ''[[Challengers (soundtrack)|Challengers]]'' (2024){{col-end}}
'''Notes'''
* {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} score includes original recordings by [[Mogwai]] and [[Gustavo Santaolalla]]
* {{sup|{{note|b|[b]}}}} score includes original songs by [[Jon Batiste]]

== Awards and nominations ==
{{see also|List of awards and nominations received by Nine Inch Nails|List of awards and nominations received by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross}}
In 2011, Reznor and Ross won the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.undercover.fm/news/13389-trent-reznor2-wins-a-golden-globe |title=Trent Reznor wins a Golden Globe |first=Paul |last=Cashmere |access-date=March 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914174746/http://www.undercover.fm/news/13389-trent-reznor2-wins-a-golden-globe |archive-date=September 14, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the [[Academy Award for Best Original Score]]<ref name="oscarwin">{{cite news |last=Saad |first=Nardine |title=Oscars: 'The Social Network's' Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross wins for original music score |publisher=LA Times online |date=February 27, 2011 |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/awards/2011/02/oscars-wins-for-original-music-score.html |access-date=2011-02-27 |archive-date=June 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620005119/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/awards/2011/02/oscars-wins-for-original-music-score.html |url-status=live }}</ref> for their work on ''The Social Network''.

For their work on ''The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'', Reznor and Ross were nominated for the 2012 [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score]], and won the [[2013 Grammy Awards|2013 Grammy Award]] for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media. Neither man was present to accept the award; Reznor, who has a contentious history with the Grammys, simply [[Twitter|tweeted]], "Why thanks, y'all."<ref>{{cite web|author1=Chad Childers|title=Trent Reznor + Atticus Ross Win 2013 Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack|url=http://loudwire.com/trent-reznor-atticus-ross-win-2013-grammy-award-for-best-score-soundtrack/|website=Loudwire|publisher=Loudwire Network|access-date=December 6, 2014|date=February 10, 2013|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130194814/https://loudwire.com/trent-reznor-atticus-ross-win-2013-grammy-award-for-best-score-soundtrack/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ross and Reznor's ''Gone Girl'' score was nominated for Best Original Score in a Feature Film at the 5th Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA)—the award was eventually won by Antonio Sanchez for ''[[Birdman (film)|Birdman]]'' on November 4, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=2014 HMMA Winners|url=http://www.hmmawards.org/hmma-winners/|website=Hollywood Music in Media Awards|access-date=December 4, 2014|date=November 5, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127103758/http://www.hmmawards.org/hmma-winners/|archive-date=November 27, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In a November 2014 interview with ''The Hollywood Reporter'', Reznor revealed that he values Oscar trophies above Grammy awards: "When the Oscar [nomination] came up, it felt very different. I can't tell if that's because I'm older or it felt like it's coming from a more sincere pedigree."<ref name="Joe">{{cite web|author1=Joe Levy|title=Trent Reznor: An Oscar Nom Is Better Than a "Bullshit" Grammy|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/trent-reznor-an-oscar-nom-745731?facebook_20141104|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=December 6, 2014|date=November 4, 2014|archive-date=December 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217033503/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/trent-reznor-an-oscar-nom-745731?facebook_20141104|url-status=live}}</ref>

Reznor and Ross won the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series]] and were nominated for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics|Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics]] for their work on the series ''[[Watchmen (TV series)|Watchmen]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/bios/trent-reznor|title=Trent Reznor|website=Emmys.com|publisher=Television Academy|access-date=July 28, 2020|archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729014609/https://www.emmys.com/bios/trent-reznor|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, they won their second Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score (this time shared with [[Jon Batiste]]) and second Academy Award for Best Original Score, both for the Pixar film ''[[Soul (2020 film)|Soul]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/trent-reznor-atticus-ross-jon-batiste-win-best-original-score-at-golden-globes-2021-for-soul/|title=Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Jon Batiste Win Best Original Score at Golden Globes 2021 for Soul|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=March 2021 |access-date=March 2, 2021|archive-date=May 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501114444/https://pitchfork.com/news/trent-reznor-atticus-ross-jon-batiste-win-best-original-score-at-golden-globes-2021-for-soul/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2021-04-26 |title='Soul's Jon Batiste Thanks God For The Same 12 Notes That Duke Ellington Had After Pixar Movie Scores Second Oscar Win |url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/souls-jon-batiste-wins-oscar-2021-for-best-original-score-1234743702/ |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|d=Q282722|c=Category:Trent Reznor|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|s=no|species=no|q=Trent Reznor}}
* [http://www.nin.com/ Nine Inch Nails' site]
* {{discogs artist}}
* {{IMDb name|0722153}}
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0000017580}}

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{{S-bef|before=[[Jim Lauderdale]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Americana Music Honors & Awards#Song of the Year|AMA Song of the Year (Songwriter)]]|years=2003}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Rodney Crowell]]}}
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{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross|Awards for Trent Reznor]]
|list1 =
{{AcademyAwardBestOriginalScore 2001-2020}}
{{Annie Award for Music in a Feature Production}}
{{BAFTA Award for Best Original Music}}
{{Black Reel Award for Outstanding Original Score}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Original Score}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Composer}}
{{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Musical Score}}
{{EmmyAward MusicCompositionLimitedSeriesMovieSpecial}}
{{Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media}}
{{Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Score in an Animated Film}}
{{Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Song in a Documentary}}
{{Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Original Score}}
{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Music}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Original Score}}
{{2020 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
{{Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Score}}
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{{Nine Inch Nails}}
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{{Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross}}
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